I. (ˈ)bär|berēən, (ˈ)bȧ|-, -|ba(a)r-, -|bār- adjective
Etymology: Latin barbar us + English -ian — more at barbarous
1. : of or relating to a land, culture, or people alien and usually believed to be inferior to one's own
barbarian tribes massing on the borders of the Roman Empire
the Chinese emperor received with civility a mission from the barbarian West
2. : lacking refinement, gentleness, learning, or artistic or literary culture : marked by a tendency toward brutality, violence, or lawlessness but sometimes displaying a rough vigor or vitality
introduced me to his loud, boisterous, barbarian mother
a barbarian race which possesses neither virtue nor humanity — R.L.Bruckberger
3. : of or relating to a people or group in a stage of cultural development about midway between savagery and full civilization ; also : of or relating to such a stage
Synonyms:
barbaric , barbarous , savage : barbarian frequently applies to a state about midway between full civilization and tribal savagery
some barbarian peoples have brought their mores into true adjustment to their life conditions and have gone on for centuries without change — W.G.Sumner
barbaric and barbarous may also be used to express this notion
they had passed the barbaric stage when they invaded Chaldea. They knew the use of metals; they were skillful architects and … good engineers — Edward Clodd
Caesar's short sketch of the Germans gives the impression of barbarous peoples … they had not yet reached the agricultural stage, but were devoted to war and hunting — H.O.Taylor
savage implies even less advancement
for savage or semicivilized men … authority is needed to restrain them from injuring themselves — C.W.Eliot
barbarous and savage are somewhat more common than barbaric and barbarian to indicate uncivilized cruelty, but all may be used
he required as a condition of peace that they should sacrifice their children to Baal no longer. But the barbarous custom was too inveterate — J.G.Frazer
the King's greed passed into savage menace. He would hang all, he swore — man, woman, the very child at the breast — J.R.Green
they had further traits and customs which are barbaric rather than specifically Teutonic: cruelty and faithlessness toward enemies, feuds, wergeld — H.O.Taylor
for him those chambers held barbarian hordes, hyena foeman, and hot-blooded lords — John Keats
barbaric and barbarous are more common in relation to taste and refinement. barbaric connotes a wild, profuse lack of restraint
this audacious and barbaric profusion of words — chosen always for their color and their vividly expressive quality — Arthur Symons
the march became rather splendid and barbaric. First rode Feisal in white, then Sharraf at his right in red headcloth and henna-dyed tunic and cloak, myself on his left in white and scarlet, behind us three banners of faded crimson silk with gilt spikes — T.E.Lawrence
barbarous implies an utter lack of cultivated taste and refinement
a race of unconscious spiritual helots. We shall become utterly barbarous and desolate — Ludwig Lewisohn
but his deeply barbarous book may, in its very vulgarity of expression, be in advance of its time — Dorothy Thompson
II. noun
( -s )
1. : one that is barbarian
a cultural conceit which divided the world into Greeks and barbarians — Frederick Bodmer
he is … a barbarian in the arts of the table — Sinclair Lewis
he would be a barbarian indeed who failed to appreciate exquisite flowers, rare lace, … and feminine charm — H.M.Parshley
2. slang : an undergraduate not a member of a fraternity or sorority