locker
Americannoun
-
a chest, drawer, compartment, closet, or the like, that may be locked, especially one at a gymnasium, school, etc. for storage and safekeeping of clothing and valuables.
-
Nautical. a chest or compartment in which to stow things.
-
a refrigerated compartment, as in a locker plant, that may be rented for storing frozen foods.
-
a person or thing that locks.
-
Digital Technology. music locker.
noun
-
-
a small compartment or drawer that may be locked, as one of several in a gymnasium, etc, for clothes and valuables
-
( as modifier )
a locker room
-
-
a person or thing that locks
-
a refrigerated compartment for keeping frozen foods, esp one rented in an establishment
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of locker
First recorded in 1375–1425, locker is from the late Middle English word loker. See lock 1, -er 1
Explanation
A locker is a small closet or cabinet with a lock where you can keep your jacket and other possessions for a while. High school students typically have lockers for storing their books (and their smelly gym socks). You might use a locker at school, when you're visiting a museum and need a place to leave your backpack, or at the gym. In fact, most gyms and swimming pools have "locker rooms," where you can change into your workout clothes and store your regular clothes and shoes, as well as your wallet, phone, and keys, in a locker. Locker has been used since the 14th century — and even earlier, although it originally meant "a lock."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rodgers was previously chief operations officer at Foot Locker.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported higher fiscal first-quarter sales and net income, with Foot Locker returning to positive comparable sales.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
Dick’s Sporting Goods reported higher fiscal first-quarter sales as it made progress on its efforts to turn around Foot Locker.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
Investors are monitoring Dick’s performance in its first full year after acquiring Foot Locker for $2.4 billion, targeting 1% to 3% comparable sales growth.
From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026
Every time I went to the mall lately, I would stop at Foot Locker and stare at them.
From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
