barbarian

1 of 2

noun

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—used chiefly in historical references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

Much 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

2

: 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

barbarian

2 of 2

adjective

1

: 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

barbarianism

bär-ˈber-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• heathen
• savage

Adjective

• barbaric
• barbarous
• heathen
• heathenish
• natural
• Neanderthal
• Neandertal
• rude
• savage
• uncivil
• uncivilized
• uncultivated
• wild

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

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin barbarus — more at barbarous

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

barbarian

noun

bar·​bar·​i·​an bär-ˈber-ē-ən 

bär-ˈbar-

: an uncivilized person