barber

1 of 2

noun

bar·​ber ˈbär-bər 

: one whose business is cutting and dressing hair, shaving and trimming beards, and performing related services

barber

2 of 2

verb

barbered; barbering ˈbär-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to perform the services of a barber for : trim or groom the hair or beard of

intransitive verb

: to perform the services of a barber

Synonyms

Noun

• haircutter
• hairdresser
• hairstylist
• stylist

Examples of barber in a Sentence

Noun

He goes to a barber downtown.

went to the barber to get his hair cut and his beard trimmed

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In some barber shops, that didn’t go over too well. —Leonard Greene, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024

Sacha Baron Cohen has a knack for transformative roles, playing oafish Italian barbers and irreverent Kazakhstani journalists. —Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024

Verb

Sports From sport sunglasses that make room for lashes to free braids and barbering in the Olympic Village, there are endless ways to show off your personal style. —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 30 July 2024

Summer in the City, a revamp of the city’s Safe Summer program addressing juvenile crime, will now allow younger youth into its doors for a 5-day program, complete with classes ranging from cooking to barbering. —Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 25 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French barbour, from barbe beard — more at barb

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

barber

noun

bar·​ber

ˈbär-bər

: a person whose business is cutting and dressing hair and shaving beards

barber verb

Etymology

Noun

Middle English barber "barber," from early French barbour (same meaning), derived from Latin barba "beard" — related to barb

Biographical Definition

Barber

biographical name

Bar·​ber ˈbär-bər 

Samuel 1910–1981 American composer