barn

noun

ˈbärn 

1

a

: a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment

b

: an unusually large and usually bare building

a great barn of a hotel

—W. A. White

2

: a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (such as trolley cars or trucks)

barnlike

ˈbärn-ˌlīk 

adjective

barny

ˈbär-nē 

adjective

Examples of barn in a Sentence

They live in a big barn of a house.

Recent Examples on the Web

For riders, the focus is less on development politics and more on the daily grind: early mornings in the barn or the thrill of clearing every jump, scoring a perfect round. —Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 20 July 2025

The State Fair heeded the call this summer, Reis said, giving livestock contest participants more time to set up in the cavernous barn, more passes for guests to access the fairgrounds, and bedding for the animals. —Ethan Wolin july 20, Sacbee.com, 20 July 2025

In the barn July 29 to Aug. 3. Barnyard fashion parade: Take in this runway show at 6 p.m. Aug. 6 in the livestock show ring. —Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 19 July 2025

Every structure—the main house, guest cabins, even the tractor barn—has been meticulously remodeled. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 16 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bern, from Old English bereærn, from bere barley + ærn house, store

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing barn

• barn burner
• barn dance
• barn lot
• barn owl
• barn raising
• barn swallow

Rhymes for barn

• arn
• barne
• carn
• darn
• garn
• karn
• skarn
• yarn

Kids Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a unit of area equal to 10⁻²⁴ square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section