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—used chiefly in historical references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

• primitive
• savage

Adjective

• savage
• rude
• wild
• primitive
• barbaric
• barbarous
• uncivilized

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

Once, some 2,000 years ago, so many such personages (then known as barbarians) came to Paris simultaneously that the city was destroyed. —Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 5 June 2025

This new Leo is poised to save America’s democracy from American barbarians within, seeking to destroy centuries of democratic compromise toward a more perfect union. —Emmett Coyne, The Hill, 23 May 2025

Adjective

The economy will not thrive on backward, barbarian technologies and our babies will suffer from the burden of debt, bad air and blackouts. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025

Built on the site of an ancient Roman fortress that protected the empire from barbarian invasion, the castle was constructed between the 11th and 14th centuries. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 10 June 2025

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

Rhymes for barbarian

• agrarian
• aquarian
• bavarian
• bulgarian
• cimmerian
• hungarian
• librarian
• ovarian
• riparian
• rotarian
• sectarian
• tractarian

Kids Definition

barbarian

noun

bar·​bar·​i·​an bär-ˈber-ē-ən 

bär-ˈbar-

: an uncivilized person