barre

noun

ˈbär 

1

plural barres : a handrail used by ballet dancers to maintain balance while exercising : bar sense 1c

He would work at an accelerated tempo at the barre to build up his strength, and learn to "feel the floor" with his toes to increase the elasticity of his elevation.

—Julie Kavanagh

2

: an exercise regimen that typically utilizes a ballet bar and movements taken from or influenced by ballet training

Barre is also low impact and has a built-in handhold, making it a relatively safe form of exercise.

—Markham Heid

Did I mention that every barre class I have ever gone to includes squats? Lots of squats.

—Kathleen Trotter

Examples of barre in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With the tour, Lovato has also committed to uplifting the next generation of pop girls, offering her opening slot to Adéla, who delivers a star-making performance, backed by four dancers, a ballet barre, and outfit changes. —Tomás Mier, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026

But eventually athleisure began to fade (as all trends do), and soon enough biker shorts were once again relegated to yoga studios and barre classes. —Kelsey Stiegman, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2026

The walls were covered with mirrors and ballet barres for Rockettes rehearsals. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026

Rodriguez, for example, enjoys yoga and barre class but has been known to let other demands take over. —Bonnie Gibbs Vengrow, Parents, 4 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin barra

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1