barcode

American  

[bahr-kohd] / ˈbɑrˌkoʊd /

noun

1. a series of lines of varying width, printed, as on a container or product, that can be read by an optical scanner to determine charges for purchases, destinations for letters, etc.

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verb (used with object)

barcoded, barcoding

1. to put a barcode on.

Etymology

Origin of barcode

First recorded in 1960–65; bar ¹ (in the sense of “a band or strip”) + code

Example Sentences

The technology required teachers to barcode and upload each exam question individually for each credit, which was a challenge initially.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Scientists extracted DNA from the blood inside the mosquitoes and sequenced a specific gene that works like a biological barcode.

From Science Daily • Jan. 15, 2026

To access the data, shoppers will have to scan the QR code, then enter the 12-digit barcode number, along with a separate lot number.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2024

The newly developed system, named CIBER, enables thousands of genes to be studied at once, by labeling sEVs with a kind of RNA "barcode."

From Science Daily • Nov. 19, 2024

The guard passes a UV light over my arm and a small fluorescent barcode appears at the base of my hand, a number unique to me, 0000105.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed