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noun Uncommon

barbarian

bah-BEH-uh-ree-uhn
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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.”

noun
1
Historically, someone from outside Greek or Roman civilization, viewed by the Greeks and Romans as uncivilized.
"Roman writers described the invading tribes as barbarians."
2
A crude, uncultured, or brutally violent person.
"He ate with his hands like a total barbarian at the dinner table."
adj
1
Uncivilized or savage in nature.
"The invading army was known for its barbarian tactics."

How to use barbarian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOriginally meant "foreigner" from a Greek or Roman point of view; now generally means someone crude, uncultured, or savagely violent.

Common mistake

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.

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Word forms

Plural
barbarians
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Fill the gap

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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."

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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tike boor churl savage Goth tyke peasant uncivilized wild uncivilised barbaric outlander

Antonyms

civilized civilised

Related words

wild violent citizen provincial bloody blast beast alien

Rhymes for barbarian

Asian radian Fabian Indian Syrian simian median Italian Russian Persian Serbian Latvian
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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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