barcode

noun

bar·​code ˈbär-ˌkōd 

variants or less commonly bar code

plural barcodes also bar codes

1

: a code consisting of a group of printed and variously patterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (such as identification) about the object it labels

… one version of the barcode reader used in supermarkets employs a laser scanner.

—Science

I on the other hand boarded the traditional way. I handed my paper printout to the airport personnel, who scanned the barcode before letting me proceed.

—Sanjeeb Patel

2

biology : something (such as a DNA sequence) that uniquely identifies a species of organism

… they now plan to analyze each fish sample by decoding a certain tiny piece of DNA that can serve as a unique bar code for the species.

—Christen Brownlee

bar-coded

ˈbär-ˌkō-dəd 

adjective

bar coding noun

Examples of barcode in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Around the world, more than 10,000 barcodes are scanned every second. —The Atlantic Science Desk, The Atlantic, 28 Dec. 2024

First, the Michigan Lottery's ticket scanner on its app allows players to scan ticket barcodes and view results. —Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 26 Dec. 2024

By adding tamper-proof digital watermarks to protect PINs, remove barcodes and eventually eliminate all human-readable information, digital watermarks can help prevent fraud at both the activation and redemption levels. —Judy Moon, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

Marlena Velez, 22, is accused of using a false barcode to scan more than a dozen items at a self-checkout register, according to the Cape Coral Police Department. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 3 Dec. 2024

Surveillance footage of the new incident shared by the authorities showed the dark-haired influencer using the self-checkout register to scan false barcodes. —Clare Fisher, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024

Over the years it's been updated to include gift guides and even technology that allows participants to update their wishlist by scanning barcodes. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 2 Dec. 2024

At the self-checkout register, the woman did not scan the items’ barcodes but instead scanned a false barcode with cheaper prices, police said in a press release. —Bradford Betz, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024

Computer vision recognizes products without scanning barcodes, speeding up both self-checkout and traditional lanes. —Yevgeni Tsirulnik, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bar code

noun

: a code made up of a group of printed and variously spaced bars and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (as identification) about the object it labels