noun
POK-iht
noun
1
A small fabric pouch sewn into clothing for carrying small items.
"He fished his keys out of his jacket pocket."
"She keeps her phone in her back pocket."
2
A person's available money or financial means.
"A holiday like that is well beyond my pocket right now."
3
A small, isolated area or group, cut off from the surrounding whole.
"Pockets of resistance remained even after the ceasefire."
verb
1
To take something, especially money, dishonestly or secretly for oneself.
"The manager was caught pocketing cash from the till."
2
To put something into a pocket.
"He pocketed his change and walked out."
How to Use Pocket
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small pouch in clothing for carrying things, or, more broadly, someone's money or a small isolated area/amount.
Common pairings
pocket money
out of pocket
pocket the profits
Word Forms
pocketted past tense, pocketed past tense, pockets plural, Pockets plural, pockets singular
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Etymology
From Anglo-Norman poket, a diminutive of poke/poque ("bag, sack"), from Frankish *pokō ("pouch").