wicket

noun

wick·​et ˈwi-kət 

1

: a small gate or door

especially : one forming part of or placed near a larger gate or door

2

: an opening like a window

especially : a grilled or grated window through which business is transacted

3

a

: either of the two sets of three stumps topped by two crosspieces and set 66 feet apart at which the ball is bowled in cricket

b

: an area 10 feet wide bounded by these wickets

c

: one innings of a batsman

specifically : one that is not completed or never begun

win by three wickets

4

: an arch or hoop in croquet

Examples of wicket in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Death rattle – The sound of the ball missing the bat and breaking the wicket. —Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 11 June 2025

The last time the Chevrons came to play the long format in the United Kingdom, Jimmy Anderson took five wickets on debut as a callow 20-year-old with peroxide streaks. —Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025

The Johnnies, notoriously secretive about their uniforms, made their entrance costumed as the tournament's grass croquet courts, complete with mini wickets, mallets, balls and clips. —Tyrone Turner, NPR, 12 Apr. 2025

With the match poised on a knife-edge, India’s captain Rohit Sharma sent Bumrah in to bowl his final two overs well ahead of schedule and the star bowler repaid his captain by stymieing the run rate and taking the wicket of Marco Jansen for good measure. —Issy Ronald, CNN, 29 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wiket, from Anglo-French, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse vīk inlet, corner

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wicket

• sticky wicket

Rhymes for wicket

• chicot
• cricket
• picket
• picot
• thicket
• ticket

Kids Definition

wicket

noun

wick·​et ˈwik-ət 

1

: a small gate or door

especially : one in or near a larger one

2

: a small window (as at a ticket office) through which one does business

3

: either of the two sets of three rods topped by two crosspieces at which the ball is bowled in cricket

4

: an arch or hoop (as of wire) through which a ball is hit in croquet