barbed wire

American  

noun

1. a wire or strand of wires having small pieces of sharply pointed wire twisted around it at short intervals, used chiefly for fencing in livestock, keeping out trespassers, etc.

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barbed wire British  

noun

1. Also called (US): barbwire.  strong wire with sharply pointed barbs at close intervals

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Etymology

Origin of barbed wire

First recorded in 1860–65

Compare meaning

How does barbed-wire compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• razor wire vs. barbed wire

Example Sentences

Barbed wire surrounded the scene, the grey rubble reflecting none of the joyous lights and bursts of color that normally fill the square during the Christmas season.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 24, 2023

Barbed wire and water trucks could be seen blocking the area.

From Reuters • May 26, 2022

Barbed wire, which was invented in the 19th century, was long used to fence off cattle ranges in the American West.

From New York Times • Nov. 9, 2018

Barbed wire fences and belching smokestacks surrounded the cemetery.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2014

Barbed wire had been developed by American ranchers to keep cattle from breaking through fences.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• fence
• fencing