barn

1 of 2

noun

ˈbärn 

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 

adjective

barny

ˈbär-nē 

adjective

barny

2 of 2

adjective

ˈbär-nē 

-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

Noun

An unlined road leads across a babbling river to reveal a striking gray building up on a hill, a massive barn raised in the traditional style that uses only wood pegs — no nails — to hold the structure together. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

The latter, which is particularly popular with wedding parties and multi-generational family vacations, boasts 36-foot ceilings and reclaimed wood from old barns across the state, giving it a Yellowstone-esque feel. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

This had been the original barn on the Pierce property, raised back when the entirety of the Pierce farm could be seen from the porch. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Outbuildings include a barn, a summer kitchen and an eight-car garage. — Angela Serratore, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2026

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

Phrases Containing barn

• barn burner
• barn dance
• barn lot
• barn owl
• barn raising
• barn swallow

Rhymes for barn

• arn
• barne
• carn
• darn
• garn
• karn
• skarn
• yarn

Kids Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a building used chiefly for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or farm equipment

Medical Definition

barn

noun

ˈbärn 

: a unit of area equal to 10⁻²⁴ square centimeters that is used in nuclear physics for measuring cross section