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 twister damaged the roof, collapsed and removed barn doors and peeled siding off a farm building, and snapped a row of trees, some in half, according to the NWS. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 14 Mar. 2026

Small owls like screech owls often sleep in tree cavities or nest boxes, while barn owls live up to their name by seeking out barns and empty buildings. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026

Phase 2 will include a cart barn downstairs and a banquet hall upstairs. —Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 13 Mar. 2026

Sharp told the jury that Dale Warner moved one anhydrous ammonia tank into the barn and removed another. —Corey J. Murray, USA Today, 12 Mar. 2026

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