barbarian Definition
a member of a community or tribe not belonging to one of the great civilizations (Greek, Roman, Christian).
Using barbarian: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "barbarian" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The barbarians were attacking the city.
Example
The Romans considered the Germanic tribes to be barbarians.
Example
The ancient Greeks used the term 'barbarian' to refer to anyone who did not speak Greek.
barbarian Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with barbarian
Example
The barbarian invasion of Rome led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
barbarian hordes
a large group of uncivilized people who are attacking or invading a place
Example
The city was overrun by barbarian hordes.
Example
The study of barbarian culture is an important field of anthropology.
Origins of barbarian
from Latin 'barbarus', meaning 'foreign'
Summary: barbarian in Brief
The term 'barbarian' [bɑːˈbeəriən] refers to a member of a community or tribe not belonging to one of the great civilizations, such as the Greeks, Romans, or Christians. It is often used to describe uncivilized or savage people, exemplified by 'The barbarians were attacking the city.' The term extends into phrases like 'barbarian invasion,' and 'barbarian culture,' denoting the customs and beliefs of non-civilized people.