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
Isabelle Taft, ProPublica, 28 May 2024
An unusual document appeared last week in the docket for the Department of Justice’s second antimonopoly lawsuit against Google.
—Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 24 May 2024
Sam Gringlas, NPR, 8 May 2024
Once the appeal is docketed, an order from the court on the disqualification issue can take up to six months.
—Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for docket 
Noun
One 37-year-old man picked up at Baptist-DeSoto in 2022 was jailed for nearly two months, which according to jail dockets was one of the longest detentions between 2021 and 2023.
—Isabelle Taft, ProPublica, 28 May 2024
An unusual document appeared last week in the docket for the Department of Justice’s second antimonopoly lawsuit against Google.
—Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 24 May 2024
Verb
According to the court, cases docketed in the current term must be decided by Nov. 1 and motions to reconsider must be adjudicated by Nov. 18.
—Sam Gringlas, NPR, 8 May 2024
Once the appeal is docketed, an order from the court on the disqualification issue can take up to six months.
—Olivia Rubin, ABC News, 8 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for docket
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'docket.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near docket
Cite this Entry
“Docket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/docket. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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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