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bairn

noun

ˈbern How to pronounce bairn (audio)
Definition of bairnnext
chiefly Scottish
as in child
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood at the Scottish festival there were traditional contests of strength and endurance, Celtic fiddlers, and groups of bairns performing Highland flings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bairn The Wallace also has a children’s menu and wee bathrobes for the bairns in the marble guest bathrooms. — Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2024 Later, Marsali once again fails to read the room and talks to Ian about all of her bairns and the joys of a big family. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bairn
  1. child
  2. kid
  3. cub
Noun
  • Her volunteer work with the PTA at her children's school, Rightsell Elementary, was just the beginning, propelling her into a world of community activism and politics.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
  • At a gathering with other artists, a seemingly playful party game culminates in an excruciating monologue about child abuse.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of child
Noun
  • When the couple is suspected of child abuse, their five kids are taken away by protective services.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2026
  • With unwavering resolve, Salvador rallies an eclectic band of misfit street kids, led by the spirited Belén, to defy fate and protect Carmen.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • Three 2-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs have received identification microchips and their first vaccinations at a zoo near Athens, as part of a global effort to build a backup population.
    — Derek Gatopoulos, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Luckily, the cubs were only after the dry food and did not hurt the guinea pigs.
    — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of cub

Browse Nearby Words

bails out
bairn
bairns
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Cite this Entry

“Bairn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bairn. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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