debar

verb

de·​bar di-ˈbär How to pronounce debar (audio)
dē-
debarred; debarring; debars
Synonyms of debarnext

transitive verb

: to bar from having or doing something : preclude
debarment noun

Examples of debar in a Sentence

the judge debarred all of the reporters from the courtroom
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In May 2024, the city debarred Makai Solutions from doing business with all departments for three years after the company failed to appear at a hearing. Teresa Liu, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026 If Chiu succeeds in debarring Collective Impact, the nonprofit would have to end its summer and after-school programs and close the doors of its three-decade-old Ella Hill Hutch Community Center, its attorneys Lauren Kramer Sujeeth and Si Eun Amber Lee wrote. Michael Barba, San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Aug. 2025 The city announced in a news release that CJR Construction Group of Raytown has been debarred for two years, meaning the company cannot receive city contracts during that time. Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2025 Courts have rejected that theory in cases defunding and debarring ACORN and a Russian cybersecurity firm from federal work. The Editors, National Review, 9 July 2025 But Bair Ranch was never debarred from the program. Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2024 But neither Ruiz nor the minority report endorsed the Republican call to debar EcoHealth from further U.S. funding. Byjocelyn Kaiser, science.org, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English debarren, from Anglo-French debarrer, from de- + barrer to bar

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of debar was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Debar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debar. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

debar

verb
de·​bar di-ˈbär How to pronounce debar (audio)
debarred; debarring
: to prevent from having or doing something
debarment noun

Legal Definition

debar

transitive verb
de·​bar dē-ˈbär How to pronounce debar (audio)
debarred; debarring
: to bar from having or doing something
specifically : to exclude from contracting with the federal government or a federal contractor
was debarred from bidding
compare disbar
debarment noun

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