racket

1 of 3

noun (1)

rack·​et ˈra-kət How to pronounce racket (audio)
variants or racquet
1
: a lightweight implement that consists of a netting (as of nylon) stretched in a usually oval open frame with a handle attached and that is used for striking the ball or shuttlecock in various games (such as tennis, racquets, or badminton)
2
usually racquets plural in form but singular in construction : a game for two or four players with ball and racket on a 4-walled court

Illustration of racket

Illustration of racket
  • A tennis
  • B racquetball
  • C badminton

racket

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: confused clattering noise : clamor
2
a
: social whirl or excitement
b
: the strain of exciting or trying experiences
3
a
: a fraudulent scheme, enterprise, or activity
b
: a usually illegitimate enterprise made workable by bribery or intimidation
c
: an easy and lucrative means of livelihood
d
slang : occupation, business

racket

3 of 3

verb

racketed; racketing; rackets

intransitive verb

1
: to engage in active social life
2
: to move with or make a racket

Examples of racket in a Sentence

Noun (2) if all the racket on the stairs is any indication, someone must be moving into apartment 3B
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Everything that happened was on the German’s racket and this time there were none of the passive moments that tend to derail the 27-year-old's assault on the majors. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 The screen then switched to footage of his son running across a tennis court with a racket in hand and watching from the sidelines with his mom. Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
After endorsing Head tennis rackets his entire career, Murray this spring started using a Yonex racket. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for racket 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French raquette, ultimately from Medieval Latin rasceta wrist, carpus, modification of Arabic rusgh wrist

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of racket was circa 1520

Dictionary Entries Near racket

Cite this Entry

“Racket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racket. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

racket

1 of 3 noun
rack·​et
variants or racquet
1
: a light implement consisting of a handle attached to an open frame with a network of strings stretched across it that is used to hit the object in play (as a ball) in various games (as tennis, badminton, or racquetball)
2

racket

2 of 3 noun
1
: a loud confused noise
2
a
: a dishonest scheme for obtaining money (as by cheating or threats)
b
: an easy way to make money or earn a living
is that all you do? What a racket

racket

3 of 3 verb
: to make a racket
Etymology

Noun

from early French raquette "racket" derived from Latin rasceta "wrist," from Arabic rusgh (same meaning)

Noun

origin unknown

More from Merriam-Webster on racket

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!