noun
barbarian
bah-BEH-uh-ree-uhn
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 notesIn 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.
Word Forms
barbarians plural
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Etymology
From Greek barbaros ("foreign, non-Greek"), possibly imitating the sound of unfamiliar languages — much like the English phrase "blah blah blah."