barn

1 of 2

noun

ˈbärn How to pronounce barn (audio)
1
a
: a usually large building for the storage of farm products or feed and usually for the housing of farm animals or farm equipment
b
: an unusually large and usually bare building
… a great barn of a hotel …—W. A. White
2
: a large building for the housing of a fleet of vehicles (such as trolley cars or trucks)
barnlike
ˈbärn-ˌlīk How to pronounce barn (audio)
adjective
barny
ˈbär-nē How to pronounce barn (audio)
adjective

barny

2 of 2

adjective

ˈbär-nē How to pronounce barny (audio)
-er/-est
: like or suggesting a barn especially in size, shape, or characteristic smell

Examples of barn in a Sentence

Noun They live in a big barn of a house.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
When a family needed a barn, neighbors would gather to build it together. — Ashok N. Srivastava, Fortune, 3 July 2026 The blaze destroyed a home and garage on one property and a barn on an adjacent property, Sagara said. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 But the owners were dragging their feet, which afforded David time to browse listings for homes for sale in the country, amid cornfields, red barns and silos. — Dawn M. Turner, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 The property’s historic red barn is being reimagined as a venue for art exhibitions, performances, and culinary events. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for barn

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bern, from Old English bereærn, from bere barley + ærn house, store

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of barn was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing barn

Rhymes for barn

See All Rhymes for barn

Browse Nearby Words

barmy
barn
Barnabas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barn. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

barn

noun
ˈbärn How to pronounce barn (audio)
: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun
ˈbärn How to pronounce barn (audio)
: a unit of area equal to 10−24 square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section

More from Merriam-Webster on barn

Nglish: Translation of barn for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barn

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