barred
Americanadjective
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provided with one or more bars.
a barred prison window.
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striped; streaked.
barred fabrics.
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Ornithology. (of feathers) marked with transverse bands of distinctive color.
Etymology
Origin of barred
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at bar 1, -ed 3
Explanation
Something that is barred prevents your entry. If you are trying to sneak into your friend's house, avoid the barred windows. To be barred is to be blocked from entrance or not allowed to do something — as if there were imaginary bars in your path. The adjective barred comes from the noun bar, and it's easy to remember if you picture the classic barred cell where inmates are confined. Barred can also describe something that is marked with bars, like a barred owl.
Vocabulary lists containing barred
The Voice That Challenged a Nation
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RBG's Brave & Brilliant Women
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Kareem Between
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma was handed a 15-month sentence back in 2021, meaning he was barred from becoming an MP.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Incumbent president Jose Maria Balcazar, in office for less than two months, was barred from running.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
Kanye West was barred from entering the U.K. by the Home Office, leading Festival Republic to cancel the Wireless Festival.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
They are barred from leaving the premises for three consecutive days without prior approval.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
When they came to the northernmost corner of the lake they found a narrow creek that barred their way.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
