barbarian
1 of 2noun
bar·bar·i·an bär-ˈber-ē-ən 
plural barbarians
1
: a person from an alien land, culture, or group believed to be inferior, uncivilized, or violent —used chiefly in historical references
In the Roman Empire, cohorts … patrolled the provinces, repelling the barbarians and maintaining the emperor's sovereignty.
Paul C. SchuytemaMuch of Italy had slipped from the grasp of the Byzantines, victim to the vigorous Germanic barbarians… who had begun their migration southward from the forested fastnesses of eastern and central Europe. Stephen O'Shea
Paul C. SchuytemaMuch of Italy had slipped from the grasp of the Byzantines, victim to the vigorous Germanic barbarians… who had begun their migration southward from the forested fastnesses of eastern and central Europe. Stephen O'Shea2
: a barbarous person : a rude, crude, uneducated, or uncivilized person
No, I'm not some sort of barbarian who would open a bottle of wine to enjoy some before offering it as a gift. That would be uncouth. Irv Erdos
Irv Erdosbarbarian
2 of 2adjective
1
: of or relating to a land, culture, or people alien and usually believed to be inferior to another land, culture, or people
2
: lacking refinement, learning, or artistic or literary culture
barbarianism
bär-ˈber-ē-ə-ˌni-zəm
noun 
Synonyms
Noun
- heathen
- savage
Adjective
- barbaric
- barbarous
- heathen
- heathenish
- natural
- Neanderthal
- Neandertal
- rude
- savage
- uncivil
- uncivilized
- uncultivated
- wild
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective people who were regarded as barbarian by the ancient Romans
Recent Examples on the Web Terri Colby, Philly.com, 20 Sep. 2017 But Charlie Gard shows that the barbarian no longer comes wielding a club and grunting in some undecipherable tongue. William Mcgurn, WSJ, 17 July 2017 The barbarian stuck behind the glass now indeed had two separate brows, but they were arched far above its eyes as if sketched by a cartoon artist. Iman Hariri-kia, Teen Vogue, 2 Oct. 2017 Looking back eight centuries, Carleton traces an epic tale of war and redemption, of a Russia that finds itself constantly at risk of barbarian invasion and annihilation and yet manages, time and again, to save both itself and its neighbors. Sophie Pinkham, New Republic, 26 Sep. 2017 Medea New adaptation of the classic Greek tragedy about the barbarian princess scorned by her husband, the hero Jason. Matt Cooper, latimes.com, 3 Sep. 2017 There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus. John E. Mcintyre, baltimoresun.com, 29 Aug. 2017 Would Trump the barbarian have been elected president of the United States even 10 or 20 years ago? John Kass, Twin Cities, 1 June 2017 Would Trump the barbarian have been elected president of the United States even 10 or 20 years ago? John Kass, Twin Cities, 1 June 2017 See More
Adjective
The Amazigh are better known as Berbers, but that’s actually a pejorative name, derived from the word barbarian. Terri Colby, Philly.com, 20 Sep. 2017 But Charlie Gard shows that the barbarian no longer comes wielding a club and grunting in some undecipherable tongue. William Mcgurn, WSJ, 17 July 2017 The barbarian stuck behind the glass now indeed had two separate brows, but they were arched far above its eyes as if sketched by a cartoon artist. Iman Hariri-kia, Teen Vogue, 2 Oct. 2017 Looking back eight centuries, Carleton traces an epic tale of war and redemption, of a Russia that finds itself constantly at risk of barbarian invasion and annihilation and yet manages, time and again, to save both itself and its neighbors. Sophie Pinkham, New Republic, 26 Sep. 2017 Medea New adaptation of the classic Greek tragedy about the barbarian princess scorned by her husband, the hero Jason. Matt Cooper, latimes.com, 3 Sep. 2017 There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus. John E. Mcintyre, baltimoresun.com, 29 Aug. 2017 Would Trump the barbarian have been elected president of the United States even 10 or 20 years ago? John Kass, Twin Cities, 1 June 2017 Would Trump the barbarian have been elected president of the United States even 10 or 20 years ago? John Kass, Twin Cities, 1 June 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin barbarus — more at barbarous
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
barbarian
noun
bar·bar·i·an bär-ˈber-ē-ən
: an uncivilized person
barbarianism
noun
as in barbarism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- barbarism
- philistinism
- illiteracy
- parochialism
- ignorance
- boorishness
- rusticity
- churlishness
- provincialism
- vulgarity
- coarseness
- crudeness
- unsophistication
- clownishness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- civilization
- culture
- cultivation
- refinement
- education
- intellectualism
- learning
- literacy
- knowledge
- accomplishment
- polish
- intellectuality
- scholarship
- erudition
- couth
- cosmopolitanism
- sophistication
- urbanity