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
docketed; docketing; dockets
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
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
Dan Mangan,josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has responded to criticism about the lack of reasoning given for decisions made in cases on the court’s emergency docket.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
The Justice Department’s petition has been shared with lawyers for parties challenging the order, but is not yet docketed at the Supreme Court.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for docket
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Noun
In his order on Thursday, Pittman said that the Fort Worth division’s docket is two to three times busier than the docket of the Dallas division, which has more judges.
—Dan Mangan,josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett has responded to criticism about the lack of reasoning given for decisions made in cases on the court’s emergency docket.
—Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
The petitions have not yet been docketed, but The Hill reviewed copies provided by the Justice Department.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
The Justice Department’s petition has been shared with lawyers for parties challenging the order, but is not yet docketed at the Supreme Court.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for docket
Cite this Entry
“Docket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/docket. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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
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
Rorie Sherman
b
: the caseload of a court
a great part of our docket consisted of regulatory agency cases—R. H. Bork
R. H. Borkdocket
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
W. R. LaFave and J. H. IsraelEtymology
Noun
earlier doggette, docquet summary, abstract, of unknown origin
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