gecko

noun

ˈge-(ˌ)kō How to pronounce gecko (audio)
plural geckos also geckoes
: any of numerous small chiefly tropical and nocturnal insectivorous lizards (family Gekkonidae)

Illustration of gecko

Illustration of gecko

Examples of gecko in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
House Gecko Most commonly spotted inside a home, the house gecko is one of a handful of non-native geckos that have fanned out across Florida over the last century. — Alex Harris august 25, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026 Multiply it across roughly a half-million setae per foot, each branching into hundreds of contact points, and the combined force is enough to let a gecko hang from a single toe or sprint upside down across a ceiling. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Vargas is survived by his loving parents, Michael and Alicia Vargas; his sisters, Briana Gidney, and Marissa Allison Vargas; a host of other family members, friends, and his beloved pet, Piccolo, a sunglow leopard gecko. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026 Jeff has really been supportive of and promoting the giant gecko and snakes. — Ben Rosenstock, Time, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for gecko

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Malay dialect geʔkok

First Known Use

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gecko was in 1774

Rhymes for gecko

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Browse Nearby Words

geck
gecko
geckoid
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Cite this Entry

“Gecko.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gecko. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gecko

noun
ˈgek-ō How to pronounce gecko (audio)
plural geckos or geckoes
: any of numerous small harmless chiefly tropical lizards that eat insects and are active at night

More from Merriam-Webster on gecko

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gecko

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