cricket

¹ American  

[krik-it] / ˈkrɪk ɪt /

noun

1. any of several jumping, orthopterous insects of the family Gryllidae, characterized by long antennae and stridulating organs on the forewings of the male, as one of the species commonly found in pastures and meadows field cricket or on trees and shrubs tree cricket.

2. a small metal toy with a flat metal spring that snaps back and forth with a clicking, cricketlike noise when pressed.

---

cricket ² American  

[krik-it] / ˈkrɪk ɪt /

noun

1. a game, popular especially in England, for two teams of 11 members each that is played on a field having two wickets 22 yards (20 meters) apart, the object being to score runs by batting the ball far enough so that one is enabled to exchange wickets with the batsman defending the opposite wicket before the ball is recovered.

2. fair play; honorable conduct.

   It wouldn't be cricket to look at his cards.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to play cricket.

cricket ³ American  

[krik-it] / ˈkrɪk ɪt /

noun

1. a small, low stool.

---

cricket ⁴ American  

[krik-it] / ˈkrɪk ɪt /

noun

1. (on a sloping roof) a small roof for diverting rainwater around an obstruction, as a chimney.

---

cricket ¹ British  

/ ˈkrɪkɪt /

noun

1. 1. a game played by two teams of eleven players on a field with a wicket at either end of a 22-yard pitch, the object being for one side to score runs by hitting a hard leather-covered ball with a bat while the other side tries to dismiss them by bowling, catching, running them out, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cricket bat

2. informal not fair play

---

verb

1. to play cricket

cricket ² British  

/ ˈkrɪkɪt /

noun

1. any insect of the orthopterous family Gryllidae, having long antennae and, in the males, the ability to produce a chirping sound (stridulation) by rubbing together the leathery forewings

2. any of various related insects, such as the mole cricket

---

cricket ³ British  

/ ˈkrɪkɪt /

noun

1. a small low stool

---

cricket Idioms  

1. see not cricket.

---

Other Word Forms

• cricketer noun
• cricketlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of cricket¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English criket, creket, from Old French criquet, equivalent to criqu(er) “to creak” (imitative) + -et noun suffix; -et

Origin of cricket²

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Middle French criquet “goalpost”; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Middle Dutch krick(e) “arm, crosspiece, stick, staff, gallows”

Origin of cricket³

First recorded in 1635–45; of obscure origin; compare cracket, with same sense

Origin of cricket⁴

Of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

It was a Surrey seventh-wicket record against Warwickshire in first-class cricket.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

"How good were a Sachin Tendulkar or a Virat Kohli at that age? If this guy is that good this early, there's no reason he can't be playing four-day cricket," said Ravi Shastri.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Not long after, he justified the roughly $130,000 investment the Rajasthan Royals made in a 13-year-old - becoming the youngest centurion in competitive senior cricket with a blistering 35-ball hundred against the Gujarat Titans.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

The debate around England's dismal Ashes defeat continued on Monday when it was confirmed coach Brendon McCullum, director of cricket Rob Key and Test captain Ben Stokes were to remain in their posts.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Outside, Amil was awful at cricket as usual, his skinny arms barely able to make a solid hit or throw, but this was just a party game, nothing serious.

From "The Night Diary" by Veera Hiranandani

Related Words

• decent
• fair
• honest
• proper
• reasonable
• stable
• unbiased