# sticker

/ˈstɪkɝ/ (US) · /stˈɪkɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sticker
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. adhesive label

noun · CEFR A2

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

For teachers: an adhesive label or decal designed to be attached to a surface.

- The child put a colorful sticker of a dinosaur on his notebook.
- Custom vinyl stickers are frequently used for branding equipment because they resist weather damage better than standard paper labels.

### 2. digital image

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- She sent a funny cat sticker to show she was happy about the news.
- The messaging platform released a new pack of animated stickers to encourage user engagement during the holiday season.

### 3. retail price

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

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

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

- The car was expensive, but we managed to pay less than the sticker price.
- Savvy buyers rarely pay the full sticker price, as dealerships often have significant margins for negotiation during the end-of-month sales push.

### 4. record label

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a company that produces and sells music records.

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

- The band signed with a small independent sticker to keep their creative freedom.
- After years of operating as a DIY collective, the artists finally secured a distribution deal with a major European sticker.

### 5. prickly seed

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

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

For teachers: a burr or prickly seed pod that adheres to surfaces via small hooks or spines.

- After walking through the field, my socks were covered in tiny stickers.
- The dog spent ten minutes biting at the stickers caught in its long fur after our hike through the overgrown trail.

### 6. to apply labels

verb · CEFR B1

to put stickers onto something.

For teachers: to apply one or more adhesive labels to a surface or object.

- The activists stickered the entire wall with political messages overnight.
- The warehouse staff spent the afternoon stickering the outgoing crates with the new safety warnings required by the updated regulations.

## Examples

- I put a colorful sticker on my water bottle.
- The band sold custom stickers at the merch table to help promote their new album.
- While digital stickers have become a staple of instant messaging, physical stickers remain a powerful tool for grassroots political campaigns to gain visibility in urban environments.

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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.