racket

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'racket' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to loud noise or commotion. An example sentence might be: "The racket coming from the construction site kept me awake all night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

The Economist

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a splendid racket for everyone, apart from the Indian taxpayer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, might be the best player in the world right now but for more than an hour in mid-match on Court Centrale he felt the steady heat of the midsummer sun and the resurgent power of Nicolás Almagro's racket before prevailing in three sets.

The Guardian - Sport

The Daily Express has hinted at its support of Ukip in recent weeks, using a leader column on 3 December to blast "the EU's wild extravagance" and side with Farage's claim that the union was "a racket which looks after its own".

The Guardian

Klein was fined in January for audible abuse during his Australian Open defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka, and was also disciplined in 2007 for verbal and racket abuse.

The Guardian - Sport

It got him thinking: why does everyone feel the need to purchase their own private set of consumer items – a hammer, a tent, a badminton racket – that everyone else has, and that lie unused most of the time?

The Guardian

I was even allowed to hold a tennis racket.

The Guardian

The ball was flying from Djokovic's racket with lethal speed, depth and precision to pin the Scot deep, even on his own serve.

The Guardian - Sport

The well-oiled racket of monthly bribes to cops and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials continues to flourish.

The Guardian

His controversial interviews did not justify the "racket sparked in our ranks that risks dangerously weakening our movement", he declared, adding: "I will not be an accomplice to that manoeuvre... That's why I have decided not to be a candidate for the regional elections".

The Guardian

Thus the SNP was at the forefront of demands for a Metropolitan police inquiry into Tony Blair's alleged cash-for-honours racket, which was run by a controversial copper, John Yates, and cost a lot more money than Carmichael's office phone bills.

The Guardian

It's been a burgeoning racket for 30 years, since the Reagan-Thatcher reversal of the postwar social democratic consensus, and it's got so badly out of hand that it has corroded social cohesion and stuffed chunks of the economy.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the term "racket" to add a slightly negative or informal tone, especially when describing noise or a dubious activity. It's punchier than simply saying 'noise'.

Common error

Avoid using "racket" in highly formal or professional documents when referring to fraudulent activities. More formal terms like "fraudulent scheme" or "illegal operation" are generally more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The word "racket" functions primarily as a noun, denoting either a loud, disruptive noise or a fraudulent scheme. Ludwig indicates that both meanings are valid and widely used in contemporary English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

The Economist

24%

The Guardian

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "racket" is a versatile word with two primary meanings: a disturbing noise and a fraudulent scheme. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. Its function varies between describing auditory experiences and denouncing unethical activities. While generally informal, its tone can shift depending on context. Predominantly found in news and media sources, "racket" serves as a term to both describe and critically assess different situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loud noise

Directly captures the auditory disturbance aspect of "racket", suitable in contexts focused on sound.

din

Specifically emphasizes the loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise, making it a direct synonym in noise-related contexts.

commotion

Highlights the disruptive and chaotic nature of the noise or activity, somewhat interchangeable with "racket" in certain contexts.

hubbub

Implies a lively and confused noise, closely relating to the chaotic sense of "racket".

uproar

Focuses on the public disturbance and commotion aspects, differing from "racket's" broader range of meanings.

pandemonium

Conveys a state of extreme chaos and noisy uproar, a more intense version of what "racket" might suggest.

disturbance

Emphasizes the disruption and interruption caused, potentially applicable in situations where "racket" implies annoyance.

scheme

Broadly refers to a plan, but carries a slightly negative connotation akin to "racket" when implying underhandedness.

fraud

Specifically targets the deceitful and illegal aspects, unlike the general sense of "racket" as a scheme.

swindle

Highlights the act of deceiving someone for financial gain, similar to the fraudulent sense of "racket".

FAQs

How can "racket" be used in a sentence?

The word "racket" can refer to a loud disturbing noise, as in, "The construction workers were making a terrible racket". It can also refer to a fraudulent scheme, such as, "The company was running a protection racket".

What is a more formal alternative to calling something a "racket"?

If you are referring to a fraudulent or illegal scheme, you could use terms like "fraud", "swindle", or "conspiracy". For the loud noise definition, consider "uproar" or "commotion".

When is it appropriate to use "racket" instead of "noise"?

Use "racket" when you want to emphasize the disturbing or annoying quality of the noise. "Noise" is a more neutral term. A "racket" implies something more chaotic and unpleasant.

Is it correct to use "racket" to describe a legitimate business?

While slang, it is grammatically correct, it's generally not recommended to describe a legitimate business as a "racket" unless you're using it ironically or sarcastically. The term typically implies illegality or dishonesty. Terms like "business", "company", or "enterprise" are more suitable.