docket

1 of 2

noun

dock·​et ˈdä-kət 

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

docket

2 of 2

verb

docketed; docketing; dockets

transitive verb

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

Synonyms of docket

Noun

• agenda
• schedule
• calendar
• program

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

Noun

The exact percentage is unclear as about a third of petitions dropped from the docket without a ruling on the merits, but the authors believed many of them were settled. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Hours before the hearing, a flurry of court filings were entered into the docket. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2026

Verb

The appeal was filed electronically and is expected to be formally docketed with the court Wednesday. — ABC News, 29 July 2026

By the end of summer, its docketing schedule shows, the 5th Circuit will consider Louisiana’s appeal of the district court’s decision to deny the state a preliminary injunction against the FDA. — Rachel Rebouché, The Conversation, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English doggette

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing docket

• on the docket

Rhymes for docket

• locket
• pocket
• rocket
• socket
• sprocket
• pickpocket
• skyrocket

Kids Definition

docket

1 of 2 noun

dock·​et ˈdäk-ət 

1

: a list of legal cases to be tried

2

: a list of items to be acted on : agenda

docket

2 of 2 verb

: to place on the docket for legal action

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

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

b

: the caseload of a court

a great part of our docket consisted of regulatory agency cases

—R. H. Bork

docket

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

Etymology

Noun

earlier doggette, docquet summary, abstract, of unknown origin