bar·bar·i·an
bär-ˈber-ē-ən 
plural barbarians
1
: a person from an alien land, culture, or group believed to be inferior, uncivilized, or violent
—used chiefly in historical references
In the Roman Empire, cohorts … patrolled the provinces, repelling the barbarians and maintaining the emperor's sovereignty.—
Paul C. Schuytema
Paul C. SchuytemaMuch of Italy had slipped from the grasp of the Byzantines, victim to the vigorous Germanic barbarians… who had begun their migration southward from the forested fastnesses of eastern and central Europe.—Stephen O'Shea
Stephen O'Shea2
: a barbarous person : a rude, crude, uneducated, or uncivilized person
No, I'm not some sort of barbarian who would open a bottle of wine to enjoy some before offering it as a gift. That would be uncouth.—Irv Erdos
Irv Erdos1
: of or relating to a land, culture, or people alien and usually believed to be inferior to another land, culture, or people
2
: lacking refinement, learning, or artistic or literary culture
Synonyms
Examples of barbarian in a Sentence
Noun
the invading Germanic tribes were viewed as barbarians by the citizens of ancient Rome
Adjective
people who were regarded as barbarian by the ancient Romans
Recent Examples on the Web
Owen Tripp, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
In the 2024 election, immigrants have been portrayed as barbarians who eat cats and dogs—or as animals themselves.
—Eladio B. Bobadilla / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 19 Aug. 2024
Column of Marcus Aurelius was erected in AD 180 to commemorate his victories over the barbarian tribes of the Danube.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024
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Noun
There can be nothing quite as effective as the specter barbarians at the gates to rally employees, sharpen organizational focus, and accelerate changes that may otherwise be hard to pull off.
—Owen Tripp, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
In the 2024 election, immigrants have been portrayed as barbarians who eat cats and dogs—or as animals themselves.
—Eladio B. Bobadilla / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Yet the real struggle between red and blue bears little resemblance to the flamboyant melodrama narrated by partisans, in which each side fights to defend humanity against a barbarian horde.
—Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 19 Aug. 2024
Column of Marcus Aurelius was erected in AD 180 to commemorate his victories over the barbarian tribes of the Danube.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for barbarian
Dictionary Entries Near barbarian
Cite this Entry
“Barbarian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbarian. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
barbarian
noun
bar·bar·i·an
bär-ˈber-ē-ən
bär-ˈbar-
: an uncivilized person
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