1
: a brief written summary of a document : abstract
2
a(1)
: a formal abridged record of the proceedings in a legal action
(2)
: a register of such records
b(1)
: a list of legal causes to be tried
also
: the caseload of a court or judge
(2)
: a calendar of business matters to be acted on : agenda
3
: an identifying statement about a document placed on its outer surface or cover
docketed; docketing; dockets
1
: to place on the docket for legal action
2
: to make a brief abstract of (something, such as a legal matter) and inscribe it in a list
3
: to inscribe (something, such as a document) with an identifying statement
Examples of docket in a Sentence
Noun
The judge had to postpone some of the cases on the docket.
on the Broadway docket for the early part of this season
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
As of Friday afternoon, a review of the case’s docket did not indicate that the department had appealed the case to the state supreme court.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
City Council goes dark in August so it might not be docketed until September.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for docket
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Noun
The justices have also shown frustration over lower court rulings, especially rulings that run counter to their precedents and recent rulings on the emergency docket.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
As of Friday afternoon, a review of the case’s docket did not indicate that the department had appealed the case to the state supreme court.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Florida Supreme Court case SC1960-78605 shows the case originated in the Circuit Court for the Tenth Judicial Circuit in Polk County, with the mandatory death penalty appeal docketed on September 16, 1991.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025
City Council goes dark in August so it might not be docketed until September.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for docket
Cite this Entry
“Docket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/docket. Accessed 26 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Legal Definition
docket
1 of 2 noun
dock·et
ˈdä-kət 
1
a
: a formal abridged record of the proceedings (as motions, orders, and judgments) in a legal action
the clerk shall keep a docket in each case—U.S. Code
U.S. Code
b
: a register of such records
2
a
: a list of legal actions to be heard by a court
the nearly 500 such cases on court dockets—Rorie Sherman
compare calendar
Rorie Sherman
b
: the caseload of a court
a great part of our docket consisted of regulatory agency cases—R. H. Bork
R. H. Borkdocket
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to enter in a docket (as of a case or a court)
closure motions must be docketed sufficiently in advance—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel
compare calendar
W. R. LaFave and J. H. IsraelEtymology
Noun
earlier doggette, docquet summary, abstract, of unknown origin
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