barber

1 of 2

noun

bar·​ber ˈbär-bər 

: one whose business is cutting and dressing hair, shaving and trimming beards, and performing related services

barber

2 of 2

verb

barbered; barbering ˈbär-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to perform the services of a barber for : trim or groom the hair or beard of

intransitive verb

: to perform the services of a barber

Synonyms

Noun

• stylist

Examples of barber in a Sentence

Noun

He goes to a barber downtown.

went to the barber to get his hair cut and his beard trimmed

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The basement housed a beauty shop and barber shop, with shimmering, psychedelic floral wallpaper, and a clamshell phone booth. —Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 21 Oct. 2025

Anyone who wants to enter the auditorium to see the latest collab between the acclaimed filmmaker and Oscar-winning actress must already be smooth up top, or willing to have an on-site barber shave their head at the door. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025

Verb

Born in Alabama to a family of sharecroppers, Morrow taught himself barbering and chemistry — the foundation of his hair care business. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025

His dark hair is tightly barbered into a stylish flip. —David Kamp, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French barbour, from barbe beard — more at barb

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for barber

• arbor
• arbour
• harbor
• harbour

Kids Definition

barber

noun

bar·​ber

ˈbär-bər

: a person whose business is cutting and dressing hair and shaving beards

barber verb

Etymology

Noun

Middle English barber "barber," from early French barbour (same meaning), derived from Latin barba "beard" — related to barb

Biographical Definition

Barber

biographical name

Bar·​ber ˈbär-bər 

Samuel 1910–1981 American composer