cockroach
n. countablen. a flat, brown insect with long antennae that is often found in houses and buildings. They are known for being very hard to get rid of and for coming out at night.
n. a resilient, flat-bodied insect of the order Blattodea, typically nocturnal and often considered a household pest. While the term has derogatory slang applications in specific dialects, it primarily refers to the biological scavenger.
A cockroach scurries across the kitchen floor.
The old apartment building had a persistent cockroach problem that required professional pest control services.
Biologists study the cockroach for its remarkable ability to survive in extreme environments and its highly efficient nervous system, which allows for rapid escape responses.
From Spanish cucaracha, from cuca (“butterfly caterpillars”), of onomatopoeic origin; see also Greek κόκκυξ (kókkux) and Late Latin cucus. Influenced, by means of folk etymology, by cock and roach. Doublet of cucaracha.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Nouncockroach
- Nounroach
Last updated May 8, 2026