locker
Americannoun
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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.
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Nautical. a chest or compartment in which to stow things.
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a refrigerated compartment, as in a locker plant, that may be rented for storing frozen foods.
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a person or thing that locks.
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Digital Technology. music locker.
noun
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a small compartment or drawer that may be locked, as one of several in a gymnasium, etc, for clothes and valuables
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( as modifier )
a locker room
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a person or thing that locks
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a refrigerated compartment for keeping frozen foods, esp one rented in an establishment
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.
A Hamby three-point shot at the halftime buzzer rimmed out and the Sparks headed to the locker room down 49-40.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
“Its a bunch of guys in this locker room that are competitors. And basically the message after the game was, ‘We’re going to come in here Monday and we’re going get a win.’
From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026
In the locker room after the game when the Lakers prepared to break their last huddle, the lights suddenly clicked off.
From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026
“Just bang-bang plays,” James said at his locker, with a shrug.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
The first I hear of it, I’m heading for my locker at lunch when a half-crazed female voice shrieks, “What are you doing?”
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
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.
