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• roach
  roach

  noun

  a cockroach.
• Roach
  Roach

  noun

  Maxwell Max, 1924–2007, U.S. jazz drummer and bandleader.

roach

¹ American  

[rohch] / roʊtʃ /

noun

1. a cockroach.

2. Slang. the butt of a marijuana cigarette.

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roach ² American  

[rohch] / roʊtʃ /

noun

• roaches,
  plural
• roach
  plural

1. a European freshwater fish, Rutilus rutilus, of the carp family.

2. any of various similar fishes, as the golden shiner.

3. a freshwater sunfish of the genus Lepomis, found in eastern North America.

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roach ³ American  

[rohch] / roʊtʃ /

noun

1. Nautical.

   1. the upward curve at the foot of a square sail.

   2. (loosely) a convexity given to any of the edges of a sail; round.

2. hair combed up from the forehead or temples in a roll or high curve.

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verb (used with object)

1. to clip or cut off (the mane of a horse); hog.

2. to comb (hair) into a roach.

Roach ⁴ American  

[rohch] / roʊtʃ /

noun

1. Maxwell Max, 1924–2007, U.S. jazz drummer and bandleader.

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roach ¹ British  

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. a European freshwater cyprinid food fish, Rutilus rutilus , having a deep compressed body and reddish ventral and tail fins

2. any of various similar fishes

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roach ² British  

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. short for cockroach

2. slang the butt of a cannabis cigarette

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roach ³ British  

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. the amount by which the leech of a fore-and-aft sail projects beyond an imaginary straight line between the clew and the head

2. the curve at the foot of a square sail

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Roach ⁴ British  

/ rəʊtʃ /

noun

1. Hal , full name Harald Eugene Roach . 1892–1992, US film producer, whose company produced numerous comedy films in the 1920s and 1930s, including those featuring Harold Lloyd and Laurel and Hardy

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• roach
  plural
• roaches
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of roach¹

An Americanism dating to 1830–40 roach ¹ for def. 1 and 1940–45 roach ¹ for def. 2; shortening of cockroach

Origin of roach²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English roch(e), from Old French roch(e); further origin uncertain

Origin of roach³

First recorded in 1785–95; origin uncertain; posssibly a development of roach ² ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

roach Roach roaches

She said she and other residents had noticed dead pike, carp, roach, eel, rudd and dace.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

Despite the roach infestation, JPMorgan dived into External link private credit, along with the rest of Wall Street, with Dimon reckoning his bank could handle the risk.

From Barron's ● Mar. 25, 2026

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was quarantined in an apartment building with a roach infestation.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 11, 2025

The typical alternative fund is “a roach motel,” says Auwaerter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025

“I...I wouldn’t call it that,” said Boaz uneasily, trying not to look too alarmed as he watched a roach emerge from one of the mugs.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

That should start to rebound from here, given the strong demand for labor in sectors such as healthcare services, Roach says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

The October jobs report suggests that the labor market is tight, meaning wages can be expected to rise as firms compete for workers, LPL Financial’s Jeffrey Roach says in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

Presented by Aaron Roach Bridgeman and puppet co-host Zesty, the programme is being filmed at the market, which producers say offers children an authentic environment in which to learn about food.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

"Gift items are really price-point sensitive; people have in their mind what they're going to pay for a gift, and they're not going to pay more than that," Roach said.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

My favorite of the set was definitely Papa Roach.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

“You turn the lights on,” he said, “and the roaches run.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

The spokesperson urged reptile owners who have been using dubia roaches as feeders to seek legal alternatives such as crickets and wood roaches.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

Participants also are frequently barred from bringing in outside food, to keep from attracting roaches, mice and other pests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2026

Sliding through the metal detectors, I overheard a sergeant explain how he put down his lunch, turned to grab a spoon, and, as he lifted the lid of his bowl, roaches squirmed underneath.

From Slate ● May 19, 2025

Ares and Aurora had not been mean or impatient when he and the roaches were scared of flying.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

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