›(alsopicket line)a group of people who stand outside an organization's building holding signs to protest against something. The people who protest are often employees who disagree with the management: The rail union is planning a 150-person picket of the terminal for two days next week. The new government was determined to avoid a return to the old days of industrial action and mass picket lines.Most union members were reluctant to cross the picket line.stand on/walk the picket lineWe spent two weeks walking the picket line, trying to get better benefits.Workers staged a picket outside the factory gates.Workers picked up their picket signs and began their protest. → Comparestrikenoun
›UKa single person in a picket line: Police escorts were provided for tanker drivers who had experienced intimidation by pickets. → Comparepicketer