barrio

noun bar·rio \ ˈbär-ē-ˌō , ˈber- , ˈba-rē- \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of barrio

plural barrios

1 : a ward, quarter, or district of a city or town in a Spanish-speaking country

2 : a Spanish-speaking quarter or neighborhood in a city or town in the U.S. especially in the Southwest

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Recent Examples of barrio from the Web

Today middle-class blacks, Hispanics and other minorities can and do move away from ghettos and deprived barrios.

— The Economist, "Half a century after Martin Luther King’s murder, America remains an unequal place," 4 Apr. 2018
Where to find the best empanada in Buenos Aires is debatable, but start at Ña Serapia in the very walkable and scenic Palermo barrio.

— kristin braswell, ELLE Decor, "Just In: Buenos Aires Is The New Paris," 19 Mar. 2018
In Cupey, the biggest barrio in San Juan, her abuela, another Ana, would serve hundreds of schoolchildren.

— vinny vella, Courant Community, "Vinny Vella: Hartford Library Program Arms Immigrants With Tools To Succeed," 16 Mar. 2018
In barrios across Spain, small groups continued to meet on Saturday mornings in town squares, campaigning on local issues, organising to help families facing evictions, or struggling to feed themselves.

— dan hancox, Newsweek, "Podemos: The Radical Party Turning Spanish Politics on Its Head," 22 Oct. 2014
Joining a war to save the British from the Germans was about as popular as a MAGA hat in a barrio.

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "Twisting the dragon's tail," 8 Mar. 2018
Carlos Tevez Adopted by his aunt and uncle, Carlos Tevez endured a difficult existence growing up in the Buenos Aires barrio of Fuerte Apache, a neighbourhood dominated by violence and crime.

— SI.com, "9 Players Who Overcame Huge Challenges to Reach the Top," 1 Mar. 2018
That includes the decision to move 205 polling stations from neighborhoods where the opposition has up to 70% support to mostly poor, faraway barrios.

— chris kraul, latimes.com, "Venezuela's roiling politics may get more turbulent as voters head to polls Sunday," 14 Oct. 2017
Loaded and ready, two vans head off to Melilla, a nearby barrio in Loiza where local volunteers have heard stories of need.

— dr. sanjay gupta and sandee lamotte, CNN, "Finding heartbreak, delivering hope in Puerto Rico," 2 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barrio.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of barrio

Spanish, from Arabic barrī of the open country, from barr outside, open country

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1833

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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See words that rhyme with barrio Spanish Central: Translation of barrio Nglish: Translation of barrio for Spanish speakers

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