cockroach

noun cock·roach \ ˈkäk-ˌrōch \

|Updated on: 20 Aug 2018

Definition of cockroach

: any of an order or suborder (Blattodea synonym Blattaria) of chiefly nocturnal insects including some that are domestic pests — compare German cockroach

See cockroach defined for English-language learners

See cockroach defined for kids

Recent Examples of cockroach from the Web

Twinkies are said to be able to survive nuclear holocaust, but new science shows why cockroaches are just as hard to get rid of.

— kristine phillips, Houston Chronicle, "A cockroach crawled into a Florida woman's ear. It took nine days to get it out.," 5 May 2018
Other than mild allergies to cockroaches and dust, the allergist found nothing that would account for her congestion.

— sandra g. boodman, chicagotribune.com, "The girl who couldn't stop coughing," 5 Apr. 2018
Other than mild allergies to cockroaches and dust, the allergist found nothing that would account for her congestion.

— sandra g. boodman, Washington Post, "Why did a little girl have a persistent ‘smoker’s cough’?," 31 Mar. 2018
The female jewel wasp injects venom directly into a cockroach's brain to paralyze it, preserve it and feed it to her unborn spawn.

— andrea gawrylewski, Scientific American, "Secret Lives of Animals," 1 May 2017
The event features thousands of creepy-crawlies, including live lizards, snakes and the famous Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Lions Club member receives fellowship award ...community news," 14 July 2018
Small wonder that scientists want to copy the cockroach, one of the most durable creatures around.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Harvard Robotic Cockroach Walks Underwater," 3 July 2018
The Lib Dems offer another way: forget the lizards, vote for the cockroaches instead.

— The Economist, "The Cockroach Party: Britain’s Lib Dems cling on," 10 May 2018
When most people look at pictures designed to elicit an aversive reaction, such as of a cockroach, the brain’s insula lights up with activity.

— helen thomson, WSJ, "Strange Stories of Extraordinary Brains—and What We Can Learn From Them," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cockroach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cockroach

by folk etymology from Spanish cucaracha cockroach

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1623

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

COCKROACH Defined for English Language Learners

cockroach

noun

Definition of cockroach for English Language Learners

: a black or brown insect that is sometimes found in people's homes

COCKROACH Defined for Kids

cockroach

noun cock·roach \ ˈkäk-ˌrōch \

Definition of cockroach for Students

: a black or brown insect that is active chiefly at night and can be a troublesome pest in homes

Medical Dictionary

cockroach

noun cock·roach \ ˈkäk-ˌrōch \

medical Definition of cockroach

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