docket
B2Formal/Technical
Definition
Meaning
A list of cases for trial, or a list of things to be done.
A list of cases for trial, or a list of things to be done.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in legal and administrative contexts to denote a schedule or register. The verb means to enter onto such a list or schedule.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. In American English, the legal sense (court docket) is predominant. In British English, it can also refer to a label or document accompanying a package, or an agenda.
Connotations
Neutral, administrative, procedural.
Frequency
Medium frequency in legal/professional contexts; low in everyday conversation in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
docket something (for something)be docketed (as something)docket a case (for trial)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the docket”
- “a crowded docket”
- “clear the docket”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to a list of tasks or orders to be processed.
Academic
Rare; might appear in legal history or administrative studies.
Everyday
Very rare; used metaphorically ("I have a full docket today").
Technical
Core use in law (court schedule), shipping (despatch docket), and project management.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The clerk will docket the new applications for next month's hearings.
- The parcel was duly docketed and sent to the depot.
American English
- The judge docketed the motion for a hearing next week.
- The case was docketed under a new reference number.
adverb
British English
- No adverbial form.
- N/A
American English
- No adverbial form.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- No common adjectival use.
- N/A
American English
- No common adjectival use.
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The judge has many cases on her docket.
- My docket at work is very full today.
- Please check the court docket to see when our case is scheduled.
- The lawyer cleared three items from his docket before lunch.
- The clerk's failure to docket the appeal correctly caused a significant delay.
- The merger proposal is at the top of the board's docket for the quarterly meeting.
- The Supreme Court's docket this term includes several landmark constitutional cases.
- Archaeologists meticulously docketed each artefact before it was transported to the museum.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DOCK with many tickets (docket) pinned to a board, each representing a case or task waiting its turn.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER (a docket is a container for scheduled events). ORDER IS A LIST.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a 'document' in the general sense (документ). Closer to 'реестр', 'график', 'расписание дел' or 'судебное производство'.
- Do not confuse with 'docker' (докер).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'docket' as a general synonym for 'document' (incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'docet' or 'dockett'.
- Confusing 'docket' (schedule) with 'docker' (worker).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'docket' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily a technical term used in legal, administrative, and business contexts. In everyday speech, words like 'list', 'schedule', or 'agenda' are more common.
Yes. As a verb, it means to enter an item onto a docket or official list (e.g., 'The case was docketed for trial').
They are often used synonymously. However, a 'docket' can refer more specifically to the formal list of cases, while a 'calendar' might refer to the chronological schedule of hearings. The distinction is subtle and varies by jurisdiction.
Etymologically, yes. It originated from a document summarizing contents, used at docks. In modern British English, a 'delivery docket' or 'despatch docket' is still a document detailing goods shipped.