barrack

1 of 3

noun

bar·​rack ˈber-ək How to pronounce barrack (audio)
-ik;
ˈba-rək,
-rik
1
: a building or set of buildings used especially for lodging soldiers in garrison
usually used in plural
2
a
: a structure resembling a shed or barn that provides temporary housing
usually used in plural
b
: housing characterized by extreme plainness or dreary uniformity
usually used in plural

barrack

2 of 3

verb (1)

barracked; barracking; barracks

transitive verb

: to lodge in barracks

barrack

3 of 3

verb (2)

barracked; barracking; barracks

transitive verb

chiefly British
: to shout at derisively or sarcastically

intransitive verb

1
chiefly Australia : root, cheer
usually used with for
2
chiefly British : jeer, scoff
barracker noun

Examples of barrack in a Sentence

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
In an audit of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection over two fiscal years, the state’s bipartisan auditors found that 56% of troopers in the various barracks surveyed had earned more money in overtime than in their base salaries. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025 It was described in the script as representing the barracks of the concentration camps where Tóth and his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) were imprisoned. Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
Villa’s supporters revelled in his struggles as the game went on, booing and barracking. Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 Simone studied Sanskrit, did social outreach with Indo-Chinese factory workers barracked in a prison, and joined a Resistance network. Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for barrack

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French baraque hut, from Catalan barraca

Verb (2)

perhaps from dialect (northern Ireland) barrack to brag

First Known Use

Noun

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb (1)

1701, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1885, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of barrack was in 1686

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Cite this Entry

“Barrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barrack. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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