What does picketed mean?
“Picketed” is the past tense and past participle of “picket,” meaning to station people, especially demonstrators or striking workers, at a place to protest, draw attention to a grievance, or prevent normal activity from continuing. The word is commonly used in reports of labor disputes, boycotts, and other forms of organized protest, as in “workers picketed the factory.” Historically, pickets were also people stationed at a military post or guarded location, and the verb retains that older, less frequent sense. As an adjective, “picket” can describe a line, duty, or fence associated with this activity. Its modern connotations are strongly associated with collective action, while the term remains primarily British and American rather than being restricted to one region.
To station people as pickets, especially to protest or prevent access to a workplace or other location.
"The union picketed the offices for three days."
Common in labor disputes and other organized demonstrations.
To serve as a picket or guarded sentry, especially in a military context.
"Two soldiers picketed the bridge throughout the night."
This is a less common historical or military sense.
Relating to a picket line, picket duty, or a picket fence.
"The protesters formed a picket line outside the factory."
Usually used before nouns such as “line,” “duty,” and “fence.”
The word began as a stake driven into the ground and later came to mean a guarded post before acquiring its modern association with protest lines.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of picketed
The word comes through Middle English from French “piquet,” originally a small stake or pointed object, ultimately related to French “pic,” meaning a point or peak. The military sense developed from a stake or post that was guarded, and the modern sense of a person stationed to watch or control a place eventually gave rise to the associated sense of a person placed outside a workplace during a protest. The English forms “picket” and “picketing” preserve this development.
Related word forms
How picketed is actually used
In contemporary usage, “picket” is most often associated with organized labor or protest activity, although it also has a military sense. The form “picket” as a verb means to engage in picketing; “picketed” is its past tense and past participle.
Easily confused with picketed
“Picket” is an action of stationing people to protest or control access, whereas a picket fence is a fence made from upright wooden stakes.