geocache

noun

geo·​cache ˈjē-ō-ˌkash 

plural geocaches

: a container and its contents used in geocaching that usually includes a logbook and sometimes exchangeable trinkets : a cache sought by geocachers

Tucked into tree limbs, nestled in crevices or magnetized beneath metal bridges, geocaches are everywhere—if you know where to look. Today's cache is a modest one: a weather-worn jar wrapped in camouflage tape and stuffed with a logbook, trinkets and the musty smell of earth and plastic.

—David Laprad

The activity began May 3, 2000, when Dave Ulmer hid the first geocache in Beavercreek, Oregon, shortly after the U.S. government improved civilian GPS accuracy. Originally called the "Great American GPS Stash Hunt," geocaching quickly gained popularity, evolving into a worldwide phenomenon with millions of caches hidden across diverse terrains—from urban parks to remote wilderness.

—Lisa Britton

Examples of geocache in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like tiny doors and geocaches, the Santa signs have an air of mystery and wonder. —Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026

Then, at 10 a.m., the new geocaches uploaded and the hunting began. —Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

geo- + cache entry 1

First Known Use

2000, in the meaning defined above