ticket
TIK-it
/ˈtɪk.ɪt/
An official record or digital request within an IT support system used to document, track, and manage the resolution of a technical issue.
In an office context, a ticket is not a physical slip of paper but a digital file that moves through a queue as technicians work on it.
The story behind the word. From the Old French 'estiquette', meaning 'a label or note attached to something'. It evolved from physical paper slips used in courts and military offices to track cases, eventually becoming the digital records used by modern IT helpdesks.
Word relationships
- support request: Support request is a general term, while ticket specifically implies the formal record generated in a tracking system like Jira or ServiceNow.
Commonly confused with
- voucher: A voucher is a document that can be exchanged for goods or services, whereas an IT ticket is a record of a problem to be solved.
Word family
- ticketing (noun): The system or process of issuing and managing support tickets.
Collocations
- submit a ticket
- open a ticket
- close a ticket
Example sentences
- "If your computer is still not connecting to the printer, you should submit an IT ticket so they can look at it." An employee asking a colleague about a technical issue.
Memory hook
Think of sticking a digital 'sticky note' (ticket) onto a broken computer so the IT team knows it needs fixing. A digital tag to track a task.
When not to use
Do not use to describe an informal verbal request; a ticket must be logged in a tracking system.
Fun facts
- The word 'ticket' is a direct cousin of 'etiquette'—both descend from the same French root referring to the rules written on cards distributed at court ceremonies.
Related words
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