barricade

1 of 2

verb

bar·​ri·​cade ˈber-ə-ˌkād 

ˈba-rə-;

ˌber-ə-ˈkād,

ˌba-rə-

barricaded; barricading

transitive verb

1

: to block off or stop up with a barricade

barricade a street

2

: to prevent access to by means of a barricade

barricade

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an obstruction or rampart thrown up across a way or passage to check the advance of the enemy

b

: barrier sense 1a

2

: barrier sense 3, obstacle

3

barricades plural : a field of combat or dispute

Synonyms

Verb

• bar
• block (off)
• blockade
• close (off)
• guard
• wall (off)

Noun

• barrier
• fence
• hedge
• wall

Examples of barricade in a Sentence

Verb

The police barricaded the crime scene.

the city barricaded the flooded streets to through traffic

Noun

The enemy broke through the barricade.

Police erected barricades to keep the crowds from approaching the crime scene.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This can look a lot of different ways, Lindsay said, like a person barricading themselves in a home or apartment, someone not wanting to exit a car, or someone threatening to jump off a bridge or building. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 11 June 2025

Fort Worth police and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were serving an arrest warrant, and a man barricaded himself in a house, said Fort Worth police spokesperson Officer Cynthia Wood in an email to the Star-Telegram. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 June 2025

Noun

Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2025

After emotions had eased, police could be seen forming a human barricade on the sand to move the large group. —Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Middle French, noun derivative of barricade barricade entry 2

Noun

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, from barrique "barrel," a typical component of barricades (borrowed from Gascon barriqua, probably going back to pre-Latin *barrīca) + -ade -ade

First Known Use

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing barricade

• barricade oneself

Rhymes for barricade

• accolade
• ambuscade
• antegrade
• balustrade
• cannonade
• cavalcade
• centigrade
• chambermaid
• colonnade
• countertrade
• disobeyed
• escapade

Kids Definition

barricade

1 of 2 verb

bar·​ri·​cade ˈbar-ə-ˌkād 

ˌbar-ə-ˈkād

barricaded; barricading

: to block off with a barricade

barricade

2 of 2 noun

: a barrier usually made in a hurry for protection against attack or for blocking the way