plural geckos also geckoes
: any of numerous small chiefly tropical and nocturnal insectivorous lizards (family Gekkonidae)

Illustration of gecko

Illustration of gecko

Examples of gecko in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The design also features a wrestling outsole, which is inspired by the distinctive structure of a gecko’s foot, that extends up to the lower part of the upper to further the shoe’s strong grip performance. Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 22 Dec. 2025 The Geico gecko first made its appearance in 1997, according to its company history. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 1 Dec. 2025 When a gecko slaps its foot on a wall, many of the branches push tightly against the surface. Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025 Some of my favorites include the viral wall-crawling gecko, the classic Bop It, and a super cool TMNT and Play-Doh collab. Anja Webb, Parents, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gecko

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Malay dialect geʔkok

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gecko was in 1774

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gecko.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gecko. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

gecko

noun
plural geckos or geckoes
: any of numerous small harmless chiefly tropical lizards that eat insects and are active at night

More from Merriam-Webster on gecko

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