barrack

1 of 4

noun (1)

bar·​rack ˈber-ək 

-ik;

ˈba-rək, 

-rik

1

: a building or set of buildings used especially for lodging soldiers in garrison

—usually used in plural

2

a

: a structure resembling a shed or barn that provides temporary housing

—usually used in plural

b

: housing characterized by extreme plainness or dreary uniformity

—usually used in plural

barrack

2 of 4

verb (1)

barracked; barracking; barracks

transitive verb

: to lodge in barracks

barrack

3 of 4

verb (2)

barracked; barracking; barracks

transitive verb

chiefly British

: to shout at derisively or sarcastically

intransitive verb

1

chiefly Australia : root, cheer

—usually used with for

2

chiefly British : jeer, scoff

barracker noun

barracker

4 of 4

noun (2)

bar·​rack·​er

ˈber-ə-kər, 

-i-;

ˈba-rə-kər, 

-ri-

plural -s

chiefly Australia

: one that barracks : a noisy partisan

Examples of barrack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tour the officers' quarters, barracks, kitchen, blacksmith shop and ordnance room, and watch a demonstration of the fort's cannon. —Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026

That single gesture spared her life and sent her to the barracks instead of the gas chambers. —Norman B. Gildin, Sun Sentinel, 9 June 2026

Verb

Villa’s supporters revelled in his struggles as the game went on, booing and barracking. —Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Simone studied Sanskrit, did social outreach with Indo-Chinese factory workers barracked in a prison, and joined a Resistance network. —Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French baraque hut, from Catalan barraca

Verb (2)

perhaps from dialect (northern Ireland) barrack to brag

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb (1)

1701, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1885, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for barrack

• arrack
• barbaric
• pindaric
• isobaric