1
: a pointed or sharpened stake, post, or pale
2
a
: a detached body of soldiers serving to guard an army from surprise
b
: a detachment kept ready in camp for such duty
c
: sentry
3
a
: a person posted by a labor organization at a place of work affected by a strike
… dispossessed theatergoers shared the sidewalks with grim pickets yesterday as the stagehands' strike shut down most of Broadway's plays and musicals.—
Robert D. McFadden
Robert D. McFadden
also
: a person posted for a demonstration or protest
In front of the White House pickets are marching … —Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson
b
: a protest or strike involving pickets
In such situations, the union often pickets the plant as well, but it is strictly an informational picket publicizing the nature of the controversy …—Matthew A. Kelly
Matthew A. Kelly
picketed; picketing; pickets
1
: to enclose, fence, or fortify with pickets
2
a
: to guard with a picket
b
: to post as a picket
3
: tether
4
a
: to post pickets at
b
: to walk or stand in front of as a picket
: to serve as a picket
picketer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of picket in a Sentence
Noun
a house surrounded by a white picket fence
Pickets marched in front of the company headquarters.
The strikers held picket signs painted with angry slogans.
The students were barred from holding a picket outside the company's headquarters.
Verb
Workers picketed outside the grocery store.
The union is picketing the factory.
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Recent Examples on the WebBrian Contreras, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2023
The two Louisville practice pickets will feature Fain, the International President of UAW who was sworn into office in March as the first UAW president directly elected by the members.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 24 Aug. 2023
Moreover, after weeks of tough rhetoric from striking writers, WGA leadership is under pressure to deliver on key priorities outlined on the picket signs that have fanned out across Los Angeles, New York and other entertainment hubs since the scribes laid down their quills.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Aug. 2023
Oscar-winning writers, from left, Richard Brooks, Bo Goldman, and Gore Vidal join members of the Writers Guild of America during a massive picket outside the 20-Century Fox studios in Los Angeles on June 25, 1981.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 29 July 2023
On Wednesday, American Airlines’ flight attendants, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, will hold a series of informational pickets across 12 bases in the country, including DFW International Airport.
—Alexandra Skores, Dallas News, 29 Aug. 2023
Union members there were holding practice pickets Thursday and Friday.
—Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 25 Aug. 2023
Screenwriter Joshua Allen Griffith, who was helping organize the pickets outside Sony Pictures in Culver City, said guild leaders have been careful to try to temper the expectations of members.
—Wendy Lee and Meg James, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2023
Since the second weekend of July when workers began pickets, Granlund said, the W has shifted from a full-service breakfast to a buffet.
—Helen Li, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2023
Since her announcement, members of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have picketed outside the talk show's studio at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
—S. Dev, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023
The Drew Barrymore Show resumed filming in the midst of the dual writers’ and actors’ strike, sparking criticism from the show’s writers who picketed outside the studio on Monday.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2023
The show’s September 11 taping was picketed, and an audience member claimed to get kicked out for wearing a button supporting the strike.
—Vulture, 11 Sep. 2023
That means up to 146,000 workers could wind up picketing simultaneously, though the total could be far fewer if a strike is limited to just one or two of the companies instead of all three.
—Brian Cheung, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2023
On Wednesday morning, housekeeping staff and supporters picketed again outside the hotel.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
From the some-things-never-change department, there was agita and legal skirmishes over picketing access and safety around the Universal Studios lot on Lankershim Boulevard, just as there has been in recent weeks.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023
Early morning picket lines have provoked noise complaints from guests, and there have been reports of passersby throwing eggs and pouring cups of urine on picketing workers.
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2023
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Noun
Long also extended thanks to the union’s negotiating committee, strike captains and picket volunteers.
—Brian Contreras, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2023
The two Louisville practice pickets will feature Fain, the International President of UAW who was sworn into office in March as the first UAW president directly elected by the members.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 24 Aug. 2023
Moreover, after weeks of tough rhetoric from striking writers, WGA leadership is under pressure to deliver on key priorities outlined on the picket signs that have fanned out across Los Angeles, New York and other entertainment hubs since the scribes laid down their quills.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Aug. 2023
Oscar-winning writers, from left, Richard Brooks, Bo Goldman, and Gore Vidal join members of the Writers Guild of America during a massive picket outside the 20-Century Fox studios in Los Angeles on June 25, 1981.
—Jake Coyle, Fortune, 29 July 2023
On Wednesday, American Airlines’ flight attendants, represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, will hold a series of informational pickets across 12 bases in the country, including DFW International Airport.
—Alexandra Skores, Dallas News, 29 Aug. 2023
Union members there were holding practice pickets Thursday and Friday.
—Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, 25 Aug. 2023
Screenwriter Joshua Allen Griffith, who was helping organize the pickets outside Sony Pictures in Culver City, said guild leaders have been careful to try to temper the expectations of members.
—Wendy Lee and Meg James, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2023
Since the second weekend of July when workers began pickets, Granlund said, the W has shifted from a full-service breakfast to a buffet.
—Helen Li, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
Verb
The donation comes as major giving continues to roll in during the historic double-strike, which has seen the WGA picketing AMPTP studios since May and SAG-AFTRA outside studios since July.
—Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Sep. 2023
Since her announcement, members of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have picketed outside the talk show's studio at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City.
—S. Dev, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2023
The Drew Barrymore Show resumed filming in the midst of the dual writers’ and actors’ strike, sparking criticism from the show’s writers who picketed outside the studio on Monday.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2023
The show’s September 11 taping was picketed, and an audience member claimed to get kicked out for wearing a button supporting the strike.
—Vulture, 11 Sep. 2023
That means up to 146,000 workers could wind up picketing simultaneously, though the total could be far fewer if a strike is limited to just one or two of the companies instead of all three.
—Brian Cheung, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2023
On Wednesday morning, housekeeping staff and supporters picketed again outside the hotel.
—Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
From the some-things-never-change department, there was agita and legal skirmishes over picketing access and safety around the Universal Studios lot on Lankershim Boulevard, just as there has been in recent weeks.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 1 Sep. 2023
Early morning picket lines have provoked noise complaints from guests, and there have been reports of passersby throwing eggs and pouring cups of urine on picketing workers.
—Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'picket.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1729, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3
Phrases Containing picket
Articles Related to picket
Dictionary Entries Near picket
Cite this Entry
“Picket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/picket. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
picket
1 of 2 noun
pick·et
ˈpik-ət 
1
: a pointed stake or post (as for a fence)
2
: a soldier or a group of soldiers assigned to stand guard
3
: a person (as a striking worker or a demonstrator) on a picket line
picket
2 of 2 verb1
: to enclose, fence, or strengthen with pickets
2
a
: to guard with a picket
b
: to station as a picket
3
: tether entry 2
picket a horse
4
a
: to station pickets or act as a picket at
picket a factory
b
: to serve as a picket
picketer
noun
Legal Definition
picket
1 of 2 noun
pick·et
: a person posted by a labor organization at a place of employment affected by a labor dispute
broadly
: a person posted for a demonstration or protest
picket
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to post pickets in front of : walk or stand in front of as a picket
their tactics have included picketing clinics—L. H. Tribe
L. H. Tribe
: to demonstrate by use of pickets
a currently certified union may picket for recognition
also
: to serve as a picket see also informational picketing, organizational picketing, secondary picketing compare strike
Note: While the right to peacefully picket for a lawful purpose is protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, case law has recognized some limitations and the Labor Management Relations Act has placed some restrictions on organizational and secondary picketing.
picketer
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on picket
Nglish: Translation of picket for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of picket for Arabic Speakers
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