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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Highlights include an 1898 canvas by German artist Paul Friedrich Meyerheim, depicting a playful pup with a racket in its mouth, and a 1900 painting by British artist Maud Earl, which shows a small French bulldog staring wide-eyed at something out of view. —Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2023

Now, four members of that alleged racket have agreed to cooperate against the other 15. —Clare Hymes, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2023

Quite abruptly, Tierney was transferred to rackets, throwing his future into jeopardy. —Robert Kolker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023

O’Keefe counters with a deal for three homes, and Loewen steers clear of the insurance racket in Mississippi. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2023

He’s got hobbies, always popping up to swing a tennis racket or golf club, race around in his Clown Car, or just simply party. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2023

Kyrgios was previously fined $14,000 for smashing a pair of tennis rackets during last year's U.S. Open. —Chantz Martin, Fox News, 3 Oct. 2023

In a room lined with workbenches and tool racks, dozens of antique rackets are temporarily stowed under a finishing table. —Corey Kilgannon, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2023

The statue's giant square head and grimace does indeed seem primed for war — not a friendly game of tennis — as the racket would suggest. —Alex Heigl, Peoplemag, 17 Oct. 2023

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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