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
Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
In the motion added to the docket on Wednesday, Marasco details her attempts to serve Swift, which involved contacting sheriff's offices in California, Tennessee, New York and Rhode Island.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2025
Administration officials claimed the order was not enforceable until it was docketed and proceeded with the removals.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for docket
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Noun
At this time nothing has been filed by the defense in the court’s docket.
—Jean Casarez, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
In the motion added to the docket on Wednesday, Marasco details her attempts to serve Swift, which involved contacting sheriff's offices in California, Tennessee, New York and Rhode Island.
—Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
Verb
The Supreme Court clerk’s office typically takes a few days to formally docket a new appeal.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2025
Administration officials claimed the order was not enforceable until it was docketed and proceeded with the removals.
—Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 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 14 May. 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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