barb

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈbärb 

1

: a medieval cloth headdress passing over or under the chin and covering the neck

2

a

: a sharp projection extending backward (as from the point of an arrow or fishhook) and preventing easy extraction

also : a sharp projection with its point similarly oblique to something else

b

: a biting or pointedly critical remark or comment

3

: barbel entry 2

4

: any of the side branches of the shaft of a feather see feather illustration

5

: a plant hair or bristle ending in a hook

barbless

ˈbärb-ləs 

adjective

barb

2 of 4

verb

barbed; barbing; barbs

transitive verb

: to furnish with a barb

barb

3 of 4

noun (2)

: any of a northern African breed of horses that are noted for speed and endurance

barb

4 of 4

noun (3)

slang

: barbiturate

Synonyms of barb

Noun (1)

• insult
• sarcasm

Examples of barb in a Sentence

Noun (1)

delivered one last barb to his ex-girlfriend as he stalked away

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Asked about the rivalry Tuesday, McDonald said the Crips and Bloods in Compton were peaceful before Bad Boy and Death Row started trading barbs. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

Anyone who has felt the sharp barb of a stingray knows that scalding hot water is the treatment. — Michele Gile, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

Verb

The jail’s main structure was built in the waning years of the Russian Empire, with tall concrete-and-barbed-wire walls added during the Soviet era. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

The pup had likely collided with a cholla, and its spines — barbed like fishhooks — were embedded across his face, legs, stomach and paws. — Sydney Page, Washington Post, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

French barbe, from Italian barbero, from barbero of Barbary, from Barberia Barbary, coastal region in Africa

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1759, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1610, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for barb

• arb
• barbe
• garb
• aldicarb
• rhubarb

Kids Definition

barb

noun

ˈbärb

1

a

: a sharp point that sticks out and backward (as from the point of an arrow or fishhook)

b

: any of various sharp parts (as the side branch of a feather) that stick out from a plant or animal

2

: an often witty remark intended to hurt a person's feelings

barbless

-ləs

adjective

Etymology

Noun

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

Medical Definition

barb

noun

ˈbärb 

slang

: barbiturate