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• barker
  barker

  noun

  an animal or person that barks.
• Barker
  Barker

  noun

  George ( Granville ). 1913–91, British poet: author of Calamiterror (1937) and The True Confession of George Barker (1950)

barker

¹ American  

[bahr-ker] / ˈbɑr kər /

noun

1. an animal or person that barks.

2. a person who stands before a theater, carnival sideshow, or the like, calling out its attractions to passers-by.

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barker ² American  

[bahr-ker] / ˈbɑr kər /

noun

1. a person or thing that removes bark from trees.

2. a person or thing that prepares bark for tanning.

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Barker ¹ British  

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. George ( Granville ). 1913–91, British poet: author of Calamiterror (1937) and The True Confession of George Barker (1950)

2. Howard . born 1946, British playwright: his plays include Claw (1975), The Castle (1985), A Hard Heart (1992), and 13 Objects (2003)

3. Ronnie , full name Ronald William George Barker . 1929–2005, British comedian: known esp for his partnership with Ronnie Corbett (born 1930) in the TV series The Two Ronnies (1971–85)

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barker ² British  

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. an animal or person that barks

2. a person who stands at a show, fair booth, etc, and loudly addresses passers-by to attract customers

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barker ³ British  

/ ˈbɑːkə /

noun

1. a person or machine that removes bark from trees or logs or prepares it for tanning

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Etymology

Origin of barker¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, barker is from the Middle English word berker, berkar. See bark ¹, -er ¹

Origin of barker²

1375–1425, earlier as surname; late Middle English. See bark ² (v.), -er ¹

Explanation

A barker is a person whose job involves advertising a show or a circus, encouraging passing pedestrians to buy a ticket. A traveling carnival might employ a barker to describe its attractions. A barker's job includes detailing the highlights of the show or fair he's trying to sell. An old-fashioned sideshow carnival barker might call to passers-by, describing the bearded lady or human pincushion inside. In the 15th century, a barker was a "noisy fellow," which became a "loud assistant or salesman" by the late 17th century. It comes from bark, from its Old English root beorcan, "to bark."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

barker Barker

“Ultimately, we are trying to pay homage to the bus tour format, which is intrinsically ‘carny,’” Misraje said, likening himself to a carnival barker espousing aesthetic philosophy aboard an ever-changing “Ship of Theseus.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

McLuhan was seen as more of a carnival barker than a scholar, and people—clearly—didn’t heed his warnings about technology.

From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2025

Lora Bothwell, the owner of a nearby day care, interjected in the style of a carnival barker.

From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2024

I mean, literally physically starving a lot of the time, and he learned to be a carnival barker, a stilt walker.

From Salon ● Dec. 19, 2023

The barker himself had paused in his calling to emit a nimbus formation of smoke.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Barker has a decade's worth of experience organising and contributing to various collections at a large multi-national company, where he works in research and production.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

When Michael Dwyer and Justin Krook started filming “Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear” in 2017, they expected it to be completed within just a few years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Massey, Gregory and Barker did not appear at the hearing in London and were not represented.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

The first book Ms. Barker learned to read was a children’s book about Bill Clinton.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Frances Dana Barker Gage, the president of the convention, restored order and the meeting continued.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

Related Words

• debater
• orator
• raconteur