plural roach also roaches
1
: a silver-green European freshwater cyprinid fish (Rutilus rutilus)
also
: any of various related fishes (such as some shiners)
2
: any of several American freshwater sunfishes (family Centrarchidae)
1
: a curved cut in the edge of a sail to prevent chafing or to secure a better fit
2
: a roll of hair brushed straight back from the forehead or side of the head
roached; roaching; roaches
1
: to cut so that the remainder stands upright
roach a horse's mane
2
: to cause to arch
specifically
: to brush (the hair) in a roach
—often used with up
Examples of roach in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Kitchen trash, vegetables, roach-spray cans, air fresheners, bathroom cleaners, a Russian Navy sailor’s cap, disposable gloves, water jugs, food packaging, juice bottles, men’s body-wash bottles—all had sloshed around in the strait and washed up on Alaskan shores.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
One Plano restaurant was closed and roaches and rodent droppings were found at others during recent health inspections, according to data from the city compiled by the Star-Telegram.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Jan. 2026
Porcupine guard hairs are used in another astonishing Native cultural expression: hair roach head dresses.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roach
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Noun
The front counter salad reach-in cooler had an accumulation of live roaches — a dozen — crawling inside the gaskets.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Kitchen trash, vegetables, roach-spray cans, air fresheners, bathroom cleaners, a Russian Navy sailor’s cap, disposable gloves, water jugs, food packaging, juice bottles, men’s body-wash bottles—all had sloshed around in the strait and washed up on Alaskan shores.
—Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
One Plano restaurant was closed and roaches and rodent droppings were found at others during recent health inspections, according to data from the city compiled by the Star-Telegram.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Jan. 2026
Porcupine guard hairs are used in another astonishing Native cultural expression: hair roach head dresses.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for roach
Cite this Entry
“Roach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roach. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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