barn

noun

ˈbärn 

1

a

: a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment

b

: an unusually large and usually bare building

a great barn of a hotel

—W. A. White

2

: a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (such as trolley cars or trucks)

barnlike

ˈbärn-ˌlīk 

adjective

barny

ˈbär-nē 

adjective

Examples of barn in a Sentence

They live in a big barn of a house.

Recent Examples on the Web

The long summers out in the barn end with a mystery that is never explained but which breaks up the group of friends. —Emily Witt, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2025

The site is largely an unused agricultural field, and plans show two houses, barns, a large shed and a greenhouse would be removed before construction begins. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2025

Since her diagnosis of mold toxicity, Schaeffer has avoided going into the barn, uses air purifiers, dehumidifiers, eats a whole foods diet, and ensures her home is always clean and dry. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Aug. 2025

Come by on a Saturday when the taproom, which was built using logs from original tobacco barns on the property, is open to the public. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bern, from Old English bereærn, from bere barley + ærn house, store

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing barn

• barn burner
• barn dance
• barn lot
• barn owl
• barn raising
• barn swallow

Rhymes for barn

• arn
• barne
• carn
• darn
• garn
• karn
• skarn
• yarn

Kids Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a unit of area equal to 10⁻²⁴ square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section