raincheck
raincheck Lexical Profile
raincheck Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A polite refusal of an invitation or offer with the implication that it may be accepted at a later, more convenient time.
"I have to finish this report tonight, so I'll have to take a raincheck on dinner."
North American A voucher issued by a retail store to a customer, guaranteeing that a sold-out sale item may be purchased later at the same discounted price once restocked.
"The supermarket was completely out of the advertised coffee, so the cashier gave me a raincheck."
North American A ticket stub given to spectators at an outdoor sporting event or concert that has been postponed or canceled due to bad weather, entitling the holder to attend a rescheduled event.
"When the thunderstorm halted the third inning, fans were told to hold onto their rainchecks for tomorrow's doubleheader."
• verb
North American To postpone or reschedule an appointment, invitation, or social engagement until a later time (informal).
"She had to raincheck our coffee date because of an urgent meeting at work."
Word Nuance & Usage
While often spelled as two words ('rain check'), the closed compound 'raincheck' is common in informal writing and particularly when used as a verb. In social contexts, it is most frequently used in the idiom 'take a raincheck', which politely declines an invitation while implying a desire to reschedule later.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in late 19th-century American baseball, where a 'rain check' was a physical ticket stub issued to spectators if a game was rained out, allowing them free admission to a future game.