cockroach

noun

cock·​roach ˈkäk-ˌrōch How to pronounce cockroach (audio)
: any of an order or suborder (Blattodea synonym Blattaria) of chiefly nocturnal insects including some that are domestic pests compare German cockroach

Examples of cockroach in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sacramento County inspectors close market due to cockroaches El Quetzal Market, 5300 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento, had two violations on Tuesday. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024 One stash house was filled with cockroaches and rats. Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Animal shelters and zoos across the country are willing to name litter boxes, outdoor posts, feral cats and Madagascar hissing cockroaches after ex-lovers in exchange for small donations. Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 Sacramento County health inspectors found more than 20 cockroaches at one local restaurant. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 12 Apr. 2024 And a woman told a citizen scientist that cockroaches infested her pantry after totality. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024 Some spiders and cockroaches, too, produce milk for their many-legged young. Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024 After a group of eBay employees behaved like trashy John Waters characters — mailing people live spiders and cockroaches — the company is paying the price. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2024 EBay will pay $3 million to resolve criminal charges stemming from several of its former employees’ sending live spiders, cockroaches and a fetal pig to a Massachusetts couple who wrote a newsletter critical of the company in 2019, officials said Thursday. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cockroach.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from Spanish cucaracha cockroach

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cockroach was in 1616

Dictionary Entries Near cockroach

Cite this Entry

“Cockroach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cockroach. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

cockroach

noun
cock·​roach -ˌrōch How to pronounce cockroach (audio)
: any of an order of quick-moving insects that have long antennae and leathery forewings, are mainly nocturnal, and include pests of human dwellings

Medical Definition

cockroach

noun
cock·​roach ˈkäk-ˌrōch How to pronounce cockroach (audio)
: any of an order or suborder (Blattodea synonym Blattaria) of chiefly nocturnal insects including some that are domestic pests see blatta, blattella, periplaneta

More from Merriam-Webster on cockroach

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