English Reference
noun · verb

sticker

n. · v.
US /ˈstɪkɝ/ UK /stˈɪkɐ/ stick·er UK spelling stickers

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    n.a piece of paper or plastic with glue on the back that you can stick onto a surface.

    n.an adhesive label or decal designed to be attached to a surface.

    Simple

    The child put a colorful sticker of a dinosaur on his notebook.

    In context

    Custom vinyl stickers are frequently used for branding equipment because they resist weather damage better than standard paper labels.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Computing

    n.a small, cartoon-like picture used in chat apps to show an emotion or reaction.

    n.a digital illustration or icon used in electronic messaging to convey emotions or actions, often more detailed than a standard emoji.

    Simple

    She sent a funny cat sticker to show she was happy about the news.

    In context

    The messaging platform released a new pack of animated stickers to encourage user engagement during the holiday season.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    n.the official price of an item, especially a new car, as shown on the tag.

    n.the manufacturer's suggested retail price, particularly as displayed on a window or tag of a new vehicle.

    Simple

    The car was expensive, but we managed to pay less than the sticker price.

    In context

    Savvy buyers rarely pay the full sticker price, as dealerships often have significant margins for negotiation during the end-of-month sales push.

    list priceasking price
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Informal Music

    n.a company that produces and sells music records.

    n.a brand or company, specifically within the music industry, that produces and distributes recordings.

    Simple

    The band signed with a small independent sticker to keep their creative freedom.

    In context

    After years of operating as a DIY collective, the artists finally secured a distribution deal with a major European sticker.

  5. 05 B2 Upper Intermediate InformalAmerican English

    n.a small, sharp seed or plant part that sticks to your clothes or animal fur.

    n.a burr or prickly seed pod that adheres to surfaces via small hooks or spines.

    Simple

    After walking through the field, my socks were covered in tiny stickers.

    In context

    The dog spent ten minutes biting at the stickers caught in its long fur after our hike through the overgrown trail.

    burrprickle
  6. 06 B1 Intermediate

    v.to put stickers onto something.

    v.to apply one or more adhesive labels to a surface or object.

    Simple

    The activists stickered the entire wall with political messages overnight.

    In context

    The warehouse staff spent the afternoon stickering the outgoing crates with the new safety warnings required by the updated regulations.


From stick (“to pierce, to be fastened, to adhere”) + -er (“agent”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated