What does voucher mean?
A voucher is a document, ticket, or electronic credit that gives its bearer the right to a specified benefit, such as a discount, free admission, travel, meals, or reimbursement. Retailers issue vouchers to reduce the price of goods or services, while employers, charities, and public agencies may use them to authorize a payment or record that an expense has been approved. In British English, gift voucher is especially familiar; in American English, coupon is often the more usual term for a price-reduction certificate, although both words remain standard. Voucher can also refer to the person who vouches for another or provides assurance, a sense now chiefly formal or archaic, and to a written instrument used in financial administration. The rare verb means to vouch for or attest to something. Although it sounds primarily modern and commercial, the word has older roots: it comes through Old French from Latin vocare, “to call,” and originally concerned a person called upon to answer for another. Its history therefore links today's paper or digital entitlement to a much older legal idea of giving assurance.
A document, ticket, or electronic credit entitling its holder to a specified benefit; also a written instrument authorizing payment or providing evidence of a transaction.
"The school supplied each family with a voucher for free school meals."
In older and formal usage, the noun can also mean a person who vouches for another or acts as guarantor.
To vouch for, guarantee, or attest to something.
"Few witnesses would voucher for his account of the incident."
Rare and chiefly literary or archaic.
The regular plural is formed by adding -s.
"The restaurant accepts vouchers for two entrées with each meal."
Voucher grew from the idea of being “called” to answer for someone: its Latin root means “to call,” long before the word came to mean a discount slip.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of voucher
The word comes from Old French voucher, “to call, summon, or vouch for,” ultimately from Latin vocare, “to call.” Its earliest uses included a person who vouched for another, a witness or guarantor, and it also developed senses connected with written proof and financial authorization. Vocation, advocate, and provoke are English cognates through the same Latin root.
How voucher is actually used
The word is common in British retail and institutional contexts and is also standard in American English, although coupon is often preferred for a price-reduction certificate. In accounting, a voucher may authorize payment rather than provide a customer discount. The verb is rare and chiefly literary or archaic.
Easily confused with voucher
A coupon is specifically a certificate or code for a discount, whereas a voucher may authorize any specified benefit, including free admission, travel, meals, or reimbursement.