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
Amy Pope, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Though the initial residency at the House of Blues has been postponed, Santana is still scheduled to play shows on his tour docket throughout the rest of the year.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Jan. 2025
Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024
The plea deal was signed on Tuesday and docketed with the court on Thursday.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for docket 
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Noun
The success of so many applicants who enter and stay in a country of destination through this irregular pathway incentivizes others to attempt the same route, adding to the overburdened asylum docket and further slowing the adjudication of new applications.
—Amy Pope, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
Though the initial residency at the House of Blues has been postponed, Santana is still scheduled to play shows on his tour docket throughout the rest of the year.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Jan. 2025
Verb
In an emergency application docketed Tuesday, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to revive the law as the government continues its appeal in the 5th Circuit, insisting the law is constitutional and that the lower court overreached.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 31 Dec. 2024
The plea deal was signed on Tuesday and docketed with the court on Thursday.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for docket
Dictionary Entries Near docket
Cite this Entry
“Docket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/docket. Accessed 17 Jan. 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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