What does basket mean?
A basket is an open container traditionally made from interwoven plant fibres such as willow, cane, or straw, though modern versions are often woven from plastic or wire. Baskets typically have one or two handles and serve everyday purposes: carrying groceries, gathering laundry, holding picnics, or collecting waste paper. The word has expanded beyond its literal sense. In economics, a 'basket' refers to a bundle of items tracked as a group, such as the basket of goods used to measure inflation or a basket of currencies in foreign-exchange markets. In basketball, the basket is the netted ring through which points are scored. Informally, 'basket case' describes someone overwhelmed or dysfunctional. The word's origin is genuinely obscure: it appears in medieval English, likely borrowed through French, but its deeper ancestry remains debated among etymologists. Few words blend domestic simplicity with specialized technical meaning so naturally, making 'basket' both familiar and surprisingly versatile across contexts.
A container woven from flexible material such as wicker, cane, or straw, usually open-topped and often fitted with handles, used for carrying or storing things.
"She lined the basket with cloth before filling it with freshly baked rolls."
By extension, any group of items treated as a unit, especially in economics or commerce, or the scoring goal in basketball.
"Retail analysts track prices across a representative basket of everyday purchases."
Standard regular plural; identical in British and American English.
"The market stalls displayed baskets of every size and shape."
The word 'basket' is so old that its ultimate origin is unknown — it predates most English words we still use today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of basket
The word 'basket' entered Middle English around the thirteenth century, borrowed from Anglo-Norman or Old French forms such as 'bascat' or 'boschette'. Its ultimate origin is uncertain: scholars have suggested connections to Latin 'fasces' (bundles of rods) or to Celtic roots, but no derivation is firmly established. Related forms appear in other Romance languages, reflecting the word's spread through medieval trade rather than a single traceable ancestor.
Related word forms
How basket is actually used
Common in both formal and informal registers. In British English, 'wastepaper basket' is traditional, while American English favours 'wastebasket' or 'trash can'. The economic sense ('a basket of goods') is standard in finance journalism.
Easily confused with basket
A casket is a small box for jewels or valuables and, especially in North America, a coffin; a basket is an open woven container.