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 Meanwhile, six food-serving facilities including a hotel and a convenience store received yellow placards due to violations such as black slime, moldy strawberries, dirty shelves and a dying cockroach. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 8 Mar. 2024 Donors can symbolically name a cockroach, rat or vegetable after an ex and the zoo will feed it to an animal. Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 No one falls ill; no one transforms into a fly or a cockroach; nothing changes. Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 As with the Pixar film, the bugs (and adjacent creatures) are the main characters here, from cockroaches, monarch butterflies, and praying mantises to bees, spiders, and even hermit crabs. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2024 Donors will receive a certificate of naming that can be filled out and shared or hung on a wall to remember the cockroach. Louis Casiano, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2024 In the series, one of the most difficult creatures to film was the ubiquitous cockroaches of New York City. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Jan. 2024 Sticky traps that catch spiders, cockroaches and other insects, but not bed bugs. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 24 Jan. 2024 In return, the couple received cyberthreats, and a box of spiders and cockroaches delivered to their house. Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 16 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 19 Mar. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!