cockroach
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of cockroach
1615–25; < Spanish cucaracha, of uncertain origin, assimilated by folk etymology to cock 1, roach 2
Explanation
A cockroach is a large insect that's a familiar urban pest. If you've got cockroaches in your apartment, you'll see them scatter when you flip on the light in your kitchen at night. Cockroaches have been around for hundreds of millions of years, and experts guess they might outlive humans. These hardy insects have adapted to so many threats over time that they're nearly indestructible today. For example, radiation that would kill you won't harm a cockroach. It's almost impossible to drown them (they can live for hours without oxygen), and they're immune to most of the poisons people use on them. Cockroach comes from the Spanish cucaracha, "beetle."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
India's youth-led "cockroach" movement, whose nationwide protests forced the resignation of the education minister, urged authorities on Monday to release all detained demonstrators.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Indian capital Delhi as part of the cockroach protests, calling for educational reforms and the resignation of a government minister.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Supporters from across India are literally feeding "cockroach" education-reform protesters camped in the capital, sending a deluge of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and tea.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
The UN's humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has said micro drones - nicknamed "cockroach drones" - are also being used on the ground in Venezuela.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
She seemed to be at the other end of the world, with Doña Andrea behind her, small as a cockroach, holding the door open.
From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago
The protesters, who call themselves cockroaches, have been demonstrating for a month now, with some members also going on hunger strike.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
“Cool Machine” is a modern masterpiece and an ode to New York, no matter that rats skitter and cockroaches scamper underfoot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Last month, he posted a question on X: “What if all cockroaches came together?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
Photos showed one of the seized Madagascar cockroaches was almost big enough to completely cover the palm of an adult hand.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
His name was Tanner and he was trying to kill the cockroaches in a drain ditch behind the apartments.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
