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 of barricade

Verb

• guard

Noun

• fence
• barrier
• 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

Although the entrance was barricaded by a refrigerator and a couch, Gentry found a way inside and all three hostages were saved without injury, Mekosch said. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Police arrested a 49-year-old Roseville woman who barricaded herself inside her home after chasing and threatening a man at the address. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Noun

In two separate but similar incidents, suspects also rammed vehicles into security barricades near the White House in March 2026 and October 2025. — Bonny Chu , Bill Melugin, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Rioters looted stores and set fires to barricades in Frankfurt on Saturday as protests across Germany demanded lower living costs and better education. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 1 Nov. 2026

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