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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

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

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Eco shop owner, Kirsty Scott, is also feeling the pinch with rising costs.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Samsara Eco has also opened a Singapore office and plans to open a KBR-designed commercial facility in Southeast Asia in 2028.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Eco Building Systems, the company that manufactures the concrete blocks Martinez is using, didn’t have one.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

It would be a steal, Ernie Eco said, eating another ham slice, and would I pass the mashed potatoes?

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt