# pocket

/ˈpɑkət/ (US) · /pˈɒkɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pocket
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. clothing pouch

noun · CEFR A2

a small bag sewn into or onto a piece of clothing to hold things like keys or money.

For teachers: a small pouch or bag-like attachment sewn into or onto a garment for carrying small items.

- He reached into his pocket to find his phone but it wasn't there.
- The tailor added an internal breast pocket to the jacket to accommodate the client's fountain pen and notebook.

### 2. isolated area

noun · CEFR B2

a small area or group that is different from the larger area around it.

For teachers: a small, isolated area or group that is distinct from its surroundings.

- There are still small pockets of snow in the shade of the trees.
- Despite the general economic recovery, several pockets of high unemployment remain in the industrial north.

### 3. money/finances

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the amount of money someone has available to spend.

For teachers: a person's financial resources or capacity to pay.

- The expensive repairs to the car really hit my pocket this month.
- The new tax legislation was designed to put more money back into the pockets of middle-income families.

### 4. billiards/pool

noun · CEFR B1

one of the holes at the corners and sides of a pool or snooker table.

For teachers: any of the six openings at the corners and sides of a billiard, pool, or snooker table into which balls are struck.

- He aimed for the corner pocket but the ball hit the edge and stayed on the table.
- The professional player demonstrated remarkable precision by sinking the black ball into the side pocket from a difficult angle.

### 5. to put away

verb · CEFR B1

to put something into your pocket.

For teachers: to place an object into a pocket; by extension, to take possession of something, sometimes dishonestly.

- She pocketed the change and walked out of the shop.
- The executive was accused of pocketing company funds to pay for his lavish personal lifestyle.

### 6. small/portable

adjective · CEFR B1

small enough to fit in a pocket or much smaller than usual.

For teachers: of a size suitable for carrying in a pocket; used to describe compact versions of standard objects.

- I always carry a pocket dictionary when I travel abroad.
- The developer proposed a pocket park to provide a small green space for the residents of the crowded urban block.

## Examples

- I keep my phone in my front pocket.
- The hiker reached into his jacket pocket to find a compass before the sun went down.
- While the rest of the city has modernized rapidly, this small pocket of historic buildings remains untouched, preserving the architectural style of the nineteenth century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.