barren

[bar-uhn]

adjective

1. not producing or incapable of producing offspring; sterile.

   a barren woman.

   Synonyms: infertile, unprolific, childless
   Antonyms: fertile

2. unproductive; unfruitful.

   barren land.

   Synonyms: waste, infertile
   Antonyms: fertile

3. without capacity to interest or attract.

   a barren period in American architecture.

   Antonyms: fertile

4. mentally unproductive; dull; stupid.

   Antonyms: fertile

5. not producing results; fruitless.

   a barren effort.

   Synonyms: ineffective, ineffectual
   Antonyms: fertile

6. destitute; bereft; lacking (usually followed byof ).

   barren of tender feelings.

   Antonyms: fertile

noun

1. Usually barrens. level or slightly rolling land, usually with a sandy soil and few trees, and relatively infertile.

barren

/ ˈbærən /

adjective

1. incapable of producing offspring, seed, or fruit; sterile

   a barren tree

2. unable to support the growth of crops, etc; unproductive; bare

   barren land

3. lacking in stimulation or ideas; dull

   a rather barren play

4. not producing worthwhile results; unprofitable

   a barren period in a writer's life

5. (foll by of) totally lacking (in); devoid (of)

   his speech was barren of wit

6. (of rock strata) having no fossils

Other Word Forms

• barrenly adverb
• barrenness noun
• unbarren adjective
• unbarrenly adverb
• unbarrenness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of barren¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English barayn(e), bareyn(e), from Anglo-French barai(gn)e, Old French brahaigne ( French bréhaigne “sterile”), akin to Spanish breña “scrubby, uncultivated ground,” Upper Italian barena “land along a lagoon covered by high water,” all of disputed ultimate origin; perhaps from Celtic (compare Irish branar, Welsh braenar “fallow land”); alternatively, perhaps from a Germanic source akin to Old English bær, Old High German bar ( bare ¹ ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of barren¹

C13: from Old French brahain , of uncertain origin

Synonym Study

See bare ¹.

Example Sentences

A tiny, almost barren island in the Indian Ocean has become a battleground in this weekend's elections in Seychelles, prompting global environmental concern.

From BBC

A barren tree rises against a flat black background in “The Wonder Gaze,” while scores of people spread out across the lower register.

From Los Angeles Times

Jackson would have runs of scoring goals but then experience long barren spells.

From BBC

Yet, the implications of the drought stretch far beyond the thousands of kilometres of barren farmlands.

From BBC

The pressure is on Arteta to finally end a barren era of five years without a trophy after that backing - and this means the big prizes of the Premier League or Champions League.

From BBC

Related Words

• arid 
• desolate 
• empty 
• impoverished 
• infertile 
• parched 
• sterile