barred
Americanadjective
-
provided with one or more bars.
a barred prison window.
-
striped; streaked.
barred fabrics.
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
RBG's Brave & Brilliant Women
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Kareem Between
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
As a high-school student, Jasmine Hedrick was barred from visiting the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford after the property’s owner began requiring anyone under 18 to be chaperoned by an adult.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Meanwhile, the court commissioner presiding over the recent hearing reversed a bail provision that had barred him from Dane County, except to appear in court.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
An appeals court upheld her finding of contempt, but found that she went too far when she barred Apple from collecting any commission from sellers who use third-party payment systems.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
Chaves was barred from seeking a second consecutive term.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
It was after nightfall when, wet and tired, the travellers came at last to the Brandywine, and they found the way barred.
From "The Return of the King" 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.
