barcode

noun

bar·​code ˈbär-ˌkōd 

variants or less commonly bar code

plural barcodes also bar codes

1

: a code consisting of a group of printed and variously patterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (such as identification) about the object it labels

… one version of the barcode reader used in supermarkets employs a laser scanner.

—Science

I on the other hand boarded the traditional way. I handed my paper printout to the airport personnel, who scanned the barcode before letting me proceed.

—Sanjeeb Patel

2

biology : something (such as a DNA sequence) that uniquely identifies a species of organism

… they now plan to analyze each fish sample by decoding a certain tiny piece of DNA that can serve as a unique bar code for the species.

—Christen Brownlee

bar-coded

ˈbär-ˌkō-dəd 

adjective

bar coding noun

Examples of barcode in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Store associates, freed from the drudgery of scanning barcodes, would be close at hand to answer your questions. —Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2023

The fun kit includes cookie mix, festive frosting, holiday sprinkles, a keepsake booklet, and barcode for a holiday video message from Parton herself along with a recipe for her favorite cinnamon roll cookies. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 15 Sep. 2023

Shadows drew barcodes across its central cricket field, and kerosene lamps lit the interiors of stores and homes like Dutch Golden Age paintings. —Sean Williams, Harper's Magazine, 11 Sep. 2023

She’s made mistakes, like ordering 5,000 coffee bags with fraudulent barcodes, useless to sell in stores. —Arcelia Martin, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023

The resulting dips and peaks in the star’s brightness are like a chemical barcode for the transiting planet. —Elise Cutts, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023

Others may have a tiny barcode or icon declaring their shelf life. —Bykells McPhillips, Fortune Well, 12 Aug. 2023

Perhaps the most intuitive way to look for a biosignature in that barcode is to scour it for a gas that was clearly produced by life. —Elise Cutts, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023

Setup is easy—the app offers the ability to scan the unit's barcode to add it to your account and connect it to Wi-Fi. —Dave Vanderwerp, Car and Driver, 25 July 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bar code

noun

: a code made up of a group of printed and variously spaced bars and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (as identification) about the object it labels