noun
barbarism
BAH-buh-rihzm
Barbarism (noun) means an act of extreme cruelty or savagery. Example: “The massacre was condemned as an act of barbarism.”
noun
1
An act of extreme cruelty or savagery.
"The massacre was condemned as an act of barbarism."
2
A state of being uncivilized or culturally undeveloped.
"The historian described the region's slide into barbarism after the empire's collapse."
3
An incorrect or ungrammatical use of language, such as a mixed-up word or mispronunciation.
"The teacher marked the sentence as a barbarism for mixing Latin and Greek roots incorrectly."
How to use barbarism
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cruel or savage act, a state of cultural backwardness, or (in language) a badly formed word or phrase.
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Word forms
- Plural
- barbarisms
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The massacre was condemned as an act of _____.
Etymology
From the same root as barbarian and barbaric, ultimately Greek barbaros ("foreigner").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for barbarism
See all rhymes for barbarism →Frequently asked questions
What does “barbarism” mean?
The word “barbarism” means an act of extreme cruelty or savagery. In plain terms, a cruel or savage act, a state of cultural backwardness, or (in language) a badly formed word or phrase.
How do you pronounce “barbarism”?
“Barbarism” is pronounced BAH-buh-rihzm (/ˈbɑɹbəˈɹɪzm̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “barbarism” in a sentence?
Here is “barbarism” used in a sentence: “The massacre was condemned as an act of barbarism.”
What part of speech is “barbarism”?
“Barbarism” is a noun.
Where does the word “barbarism” come from?
The word “barbarism” comes from Greek. From the same root as barbarian and barbaric, ultimately Greek barbaros ("foreigner").
How many meanings does “barbarism” have?
“Barbarism” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an act of extreme cruelty or savagery.
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