barn

noun

ˈbärn 

1

a

: a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment

b

: an unusually large and usually bare building

… a great barn of a hotel …

—W. A. White

2

: a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (such as trolley cars or trucks)

barnlike

ˈbärn-ˌlīk 

adjective

barny

ˈbär-nē 

adjective

Examples of barn in a Sentence

They live in a big barn of a house.

Recent Examples on the Web

Elsewhere in the barn, there’s a pair of isolated rooms for donkeys with highly infectious diseases like salmonella or strangles. — Brayden Garcia october 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Oct. 2026

This large, 19th-century barn has been restored to highlight its high ceilings, oversized doors, and sweeping views of the Catskills from nearly every window. — Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026

The property has a garage, a barn, sprawling yards, and a deck. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026

The home was built using yellow limestone and lumber salvaged from a historic barn. — Lauryn Azu, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bern, from Old English bereærn, from bere barley + ærn house, store

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing barn

• barn burner
• barn dance
• barn lot
• barn owl
• barn raising
• barn swallow

Rhymes for barn

• arn
• barne
• carn
• darn
• garn
• karn
• skarn
• yarn

Kids Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a unit of area equal to 10⁻²⁴ square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section