cockroach

noun

cock·​roach ˈkäk-ˌrōch 

: 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

If the food— ants, termites, cockroaches or whatever—are eliminated, spiders will find somewhere else to live. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025

Bamboo Penny’s 5270 W 116th Place, Leawood A live cockroach crawled on the wall next to the rice cooker at this Leawood Thai restaurant. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2025

Restaurants are revolving doors of people and food, the perfect circumstances for bacteria to grow and lurking cockroaches to build a nest among food crumbs and scraps. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025

Once they were busted, the hacks made like cockroaches in the kitchen at night when the lights are suddenly turned on. —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

by folk etymology from Spanish cucaracha cockroach

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cockroach

• German cockroach

Rhymes for cockroach

• approach
• encroach
• reproach
• stagecoach
• broach
• coach
• loach
• poach
• roach
• roche

Kids Definition

cockroach

noun

cock·​roach -ˌrōch 

: 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 

: any of an order or suborder (Blattodea synonym Blattaria) of chiefly nocturnal insects including some that are domestic pests see blatta, blattella, periplaneta