Jump To:

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

ecological or environmental.
not harmful to the environment.

an eco resort with no air conditioning.

noun

ecology.

Eco ² American

[ek-oh, e-kaw] / ˈɛk oʊ, ˈɛ kɔ /

noun

Umberto, 1932–2016, Italian novelist and philosopher.

eco- ³ American

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 British

/ ˈiːkəʊ /

noun

1. short for ecology
2. ( as modifier )
  
  an eco group

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Eco ² British

/ ˈɛkəʊ /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

eco- ³ British

combining form

denoting ecology or ecological

ecocide
ecosphere

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of eco

First recorded in 1985–90

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.

"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

If you can, keeping your EV in a garage, or under a cover, can help to improve its battery performance, as can driving in "eco mode".

From BBC • Nov. 18, 2025

"I am not some sort of flight-shaming eco warrior. I love flying – I always have," she said during a speech at the annual dinner of trade body Airlines UK in London.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2025

"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 entire boat was a floating eco hazard.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023