sticker

American  

[stik-er] / ˈstɪk ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that sticks.

2. an adhesive label.

3. Informal. sticker price.

4. something, as a problem or riddle, that puzzles or nonpluses one.

5. Slang. a knife, especially one used as a weapon by a criminal.

6. a worker who kills animals in a slaughterhouse by piercing the jugular vein with a pointed instrument.

7. a bur, thorn, or the like.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to the sticker price of an automobile.

   Customers are experiencing sticker shock at the high price of new cars.

verb (used with object)

1. to place a sticker on.

sticker British  

/ ˈstɪkə /

noun

1. an adhesive label, poster, or paper

2. a person or thing that sticks

3. a persevering or industrious person

4. something prickly, such as a thorn, that clings to one's clothing, etc

5. informal something that perplexes

6. informal a knife used for stabbing or piercing

---

Etymology

Origin of sticker

First recorded in 1575–85; stick ² + -er ¹

Explanation

A sticker is a label or a decoration with a sticky back, so it can be pasted anywhere. If you're a big fan of superheroes, you might cover your notebooks with Wonder Woman stickers. Sticker usually refers to the kitten stickers your brother sticks on his bedroom windows or the adhesive labels that you peel off your banana. Some plants also have stickers (also known as burrs, prickles, or thorns) — the kind that get stuck in your sweater after a walk in the woods. The term sticker price means the listed price for a car or some other item offered for sale.

Example Sentences

Dozens of packages stuffed with shiny football jerseys have piled up in a Mexico City warehouse, each with a sticker reading "seized merchandise" -- pirated products for the 2026 World Cup.

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

There can be a multiplier effect from supporters who gave only $5 but then displayed a yard sign or bumper sticker and talked to neighbors about their candidate.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

Here are some common election day concerns and challenges and how to end your Tuesday with an “I voted” sticker.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

It isn’t Fong’s preference to endure the hassle of air travel instead of a drive into the city, but sticker shock made the idea of getting into the Garden impossible.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

He watches us through an inch of scratched-up glass, a protective-barrier with a sticker that says, BULLETPROOF.

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle

Related Words

• amount
• bill
• cost
• demand
• discount
• estimate
• expenditure
• expense
• fare
• fee
• figure
• output
• pay
• payment
• premium
• rate
• return
• tariff
• valuation
• worth