barbarian
Barbarian (noun) means Historically, someone from outside Greek or Roman civilization, viewed by the Greeks and Romans as uncivilized. Example: “Roman writers described the invading tribes as barbarians.”
How to use barbarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOriginally meant "foreigner" from a Greek or Roman point of view; now generally means someone crude, uncultured, or savagely violent.
The word's modern insulting meaning developed from an ancient in-group/out-group label, not from any actual measure of a people's culture.
Word forms
barbarians plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Roman writers described the invading tribes as _____.
Etymology
From Greek barbaros ("foreign, non-Greek"), possibly imitating the sound of unfamiliar languages — much like the English phrase "blah blah blah."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for barbarian
See all rhymes for barbarian →Frequently asked questions
What does “barbarian” mean?
The word “barbarian” means historically, someone from outside Greek or Roman civilization, viewed by the Greeks and Romans as uncivilized. In plain terms, originally meant "foreigner" from a Greek or Roman point of view; now generally means someone crude, uncultured, or savagely violent.
How do you pronounce “barbarian”?
“Barbarian” is pronounced bah-BEH-uh-ree-uhn (/bɑɹˈbɛəɹ.i.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “barbarian” in a sentence?
Here is “barbarian” used in a sentence: “Roman writers described the invading tribes as barbarians.”
What is another word for “barbarian”?
Words with a similar meaning to “barbarian” include outlander and peregrine.
What part of speech is “barbarian”?
Depending on how it is used, “barbarian” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “barbarian” come from?
The word “barbarian” comes from Greek. From Greek barbaros ("foreign, non-Greek"), possibly imitating the sound of unfamiliar languages — much like the English phrase "blah blah blah.".
Is “barbarian” a common word?
“Barbarian” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “barbarian” have?
“Barbarian” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, someone from outside Greek or Roman civilization, viewed by the Greeks and Romans as uncivilized.
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