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noun Uncommon

picket

PIH-kiht

Picket (noun) means a person or group standing outside a workplace during a strike to protest and discourage others from entering. Example: “Workers formed a picket outside the factory gates.”

noun
1
A person or group standing outside a workplace during a strike to protest and discourage others from entering.
"Workers formed a picket outside the factory gates."
"She joined the picket line at dawn."
2
A pointed wooden or metal stake driven into the ground, as in a fence.
"The garden was bordered by a white picket fence."
verb
1
To stand outside a workplace in protest, usually as part of a strike.
"The union picketed the office for a full week."

How to use picket

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA protest line outside a workplace during a strike, or a pointed stake used for a fence.

Common pairings
picket line picket fence go on picket

Word forms

picketed past tense, picketted past tense, pickets plural, Pickets plural, pickets singular

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Workers formed a _____ outside the factory gates.

Etymology

From French piquet, from piquer ("to pierce").

Origin: French

Related words

Rhymes for picket

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Frequently asked questions

What does “picket” mean?

The word “picket” means a person or group standing outside a workplace during a strike to protest and discourage others from entering. In plain terms, a protest line outside a workplace during a strike, or a pointed stake used for a fence.

How do you pronounce “picket”?

“Picket” is pronounced PIH-kiht (/ˈpɪkɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “picket” in a sentence?

Here is “picket” used in a sentence: “Workers formed a picket outside the factory gates.”

What part of speech is “picket”?

Depending on how it is used, “picket” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “picket” come from?

The word “picket” comes from French. From French piquet, from piquer ("to pierce").

Is “picket” a common word?

“Picket” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “picket” have?

“Picket” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or group standing outside a workplace during a strike to protest and discourage others from entering.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial