racket

1 of 3

noun (1)

rack·​et ˈra-kət 

variants or racquet

1

: a lightweight implement that consists of a netting (as of nylon) stretched in a usually oval open frame with a handle attached and that is used for striking the ball or shuttlecock in various games (such as tennis, racquets, or badminton)

2

usually racquets plural in form but singular in construction : a game for two or four players with ball and racket on a 4-walled court

Illustration of racket

• A tennis
• B racquetball
• C badminton

racket

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: confused clattering noise : clamor

2

a

: social whirl or excitement

b

: the strain of exciting or trying experiences

3

a

: a fraudulent scheme, enterprise, or activity

b

: a usually illegitimate enterprise made workable by bribery or intimidation

c

: an easy and lucrative means of livelihood

d

slang : occupation, business

racket

3 of 3

verb

racketed; racketing; rackets

intransitive verb

1

: to engage in active social life

2

: to move with or make a racket

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• babel
• blare
• bluster
• bowwow
• brawl
• bruit [archaic]
• cacophony
• chatter
• clamor
• clangor
• decibel(s)
• din
• discordance
• katzenjammer
• noise
• rattle
• roar

Examples of racket in a Sentence

Noun (2)

if all the racket on the stairs is any indication, someone must be moving into apartment 3B

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Trojans’ rackets, however, played the same, championship tune. —Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 10 May 2024

As temperatures rise around metro Detroit, so does the racket of jackhammers and bulldozers along Michigan roadways. —Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 9 May 2024

Climate & Environment How humanity’s ear-splitting racket deafens whales and other marine animals May 5, 2024 Since 2018, Berkeley’s Energy Institute at Haas has received $205,000 from PG&E, $160,000 from Edison and $50,000 from SDGE, according to the institute. —Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2024

So the women decided to get in on this whole racket. —Mandalit Del Barco, NPR, 7 May 2024

Some have already begun to come out in Georgia and other parts of the South, prompting one North Carolina county to urge the public this week to stop calling 911 asking about the racket. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 May 2024

Tennis-core might not hold significant value to those who have never picked up a racket. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 3 May 2024

In the video, the four-time Grand Slam champion is seen working on her serve, twirling her racket and adjusting her ponytail, all while the movie’s score plays in the background. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024

Sports equipment Sports equipment like tennis rackets, basketballs and even bowling balls are common in recycling bins around the metro because they are often made of plastic. —Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French raquette, ultimately from Medieval Latin rasceta wrist, carpus, modification of Arabic rusgh wrist

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

racket

1 of 3 noun

rack·​et

variants or racquet

ˈrak-ət 

1

: a light implement consisting of a handle attached to an open frame with a network of strings stretched across it that is used to hit the object in play (as a ball) in various games (as tennis, badminton, or racquetball)

2

: paddle entry 2 sense 1c

racket

2 of 3 noun

1

: a loud confused noise

2

a

: a dishonest scheme for obtaining money (as by cheating or threats)

b

: an easy way to make money or earn a living

is that all you do? What a racket

racket

3 of 3 verb

: to make a racket

Etymology

Noun

from early French raquette "racket" derived from Latin rasceta "wrist," from Arabic rusgh (same meaning)

Noun

origin unknown