barberry

noun

bar·​ber·​ry ˈbär-ˌber-ē 

-ˌbe-rē

: any of a genus (Berberis of the family Berberidaceae, the barberry family) of shrubs usually having spines, usually yellow flowers, and oblong red or blackish berries

Examples of barberry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Berberine Berberine is a compound found in plants such as barberry, Oregon grape, and goldthread. —Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 20 June 2025

Oral barberry extract: Liquid barberry extract may help treat moderate-to-severe acne. —Susan Bard, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2025

Berberine is a natural compound called an alkaloid that’s extracted from a variety of plants, including goldenseal, European barberry, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric. —Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2025

The preserve has about 86 native plant species, including some rare and endangered such as Nevin’s barberry and the Antioch Dunes Buckwheat. —Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English berberie, from Medieval Latin berberis, from Arabic barbārīs

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for barberry

• askari
• astbury
• azeri
• banbury
• blackberry
• blueberry
• canary
• cranberry
• dentary
• dewberry
• dogberry
• equerry

Kids Definition

barberry

noun

bar·​ber·​ry ˈbär-ˌber-ē 

: any of a genus of spiny yellow-flowered shrubs with bright red or blackish berries

Medical Definition

barberry

noun

bar·​ber·​ry

ˈbär-ˌber-ē, British often & US sometimes -b(ə-)rē

plural barberries

1

: any shrub of the genus Berberis

2

a

: an evergreen shrub of the genus Mahonia (especially M. aquifolium)

b

: berberis sense 2