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• eco
  eco

  adjective

  ecological or environmental.
• Eco
  Eco

  noun

  Umberto, 1932–2016, Italian novelist and philosopher.
• eco-
  eco-

  a combining form representing ecology in the formation of compounds (ecosystem; ecotype ); also with the more general sense “environment,” “nature,” “natural habitat” (ecocide; ecolaw; ecopolitics ).

eco

¹ American  

[ek-oh, ee-koh] / ˈɛk oʊ, ˈi koʊ /

adjective

1. ecological or environmental.

2. not harmful to the environment.

   an eco resort with no air conditioning.

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noun

1. ecology.

Eco ² American  

[ek-oh, e-kaw] / ˈɛk oʊ, ˈɛ kɔ /

noun

1. Umberto, 1932–2016, Italian novelist and philosopher.

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eco- ³ American  

1. a combining form representing ecology in the formation of compounds (ecosystem; ecotype ); also with the more general sense “environment,” “nature,” “natural habitat” (ecocide; ecolaw; ecopolitics ).

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eco ¹ British  

/ ˈiːkəʊ /

noun

1. 1. short for ecology

   2. ( as modifier )

      an eco group

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Eco ² British  

/ ˈɛkəʊ /

noun

1. Umberto. born 1932, Italian semiologist and writer. His novels include The Name of the Rose (1981) and Foucault's Pendulum (1988)

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eco- ³ British  

combining form

1. denoting ecology or ecological

   ecocide

   ecosphere

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Etymology

Origin of eco

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

eco Eco eco-

"I think the reality is that mums would like an eco option but they are so busy and it would have to be priced appropriately."

From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026

"I have no intention of clipping anyone's wings. I am not some sort of flight-shaming eco warrior. I love flying – I always have," the transport secretary said.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2025

The eco Dome will be recycled and reused elsewhere after the ceremony.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2024

Her long-term plan is to convert an old barn on her seven acres into a fully-fledged eco home.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2024

The entire boat was a floating eco hazard.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

In the labyrinthine manner of Orhan Pamuk or Umberto Eco, the novel playfully explores symbols and the ways their meanings evolve across time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Four ships sustained damage near the Black Sea pipeline in recent days, including a tanker chartered by Chevron and owned by Greek shipper Aristidis Alafouzos, chief executive of Okeanis Eco.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Leamington's shop is a shared space on Bedford Street with Leamington Eco Hub.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026

Video of the ceremony can be seen online, as can the website of the society, which gives a list of laureates going back to 1967, including the Italian writer Umberto Eco.

From BBC ● May 6, 2026

Then my father came home with Ernie Eco.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

Jean Bosco Nzeyimana of Rwanda, who is the founder and CEO Of Habona Ltd., a company that uses biomass and waste to develop eco- friendly fuels that are used in rural Africa.

From Time ● Jun. 24, 2016

“Our clients in particular are eco- and health-minded, and the grown look certainly suits a girl who is more au naturel.”

From New York Times ● Jan. 29, 2014

Whatever the airport's main function may be, locals are hoping for a boost to the region's eco- and historical tourism.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2012

Months later, the reality is that the eco- system has been altered through at least 5m barrels of oil and 2m gallons of dispersant being spilled into the Gulf.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 26, 2010

The Queensland-based International Centre for Ecotourism Research this year calculated that outdoor tourism—which includes both eco- and adventure tourism—accounts for about one-quarter of Australia's tourism industry and generates about $14 billion in annual revenue.

From Time Magazine Archive