barred

Meanings

1. 1adjectiveafter a verb

   Not permitted to enter somewhere or take part in something, because of a rule or an official decision.

   Grammar: Usually follows be or remain and takes from: he was barred from the club.

   Patterns

   • be barred from something
   • be barred from doing something

   The fan was barred from the stadium for a year after the incident.

   She was barred from competing after failing the drug test.

   Children under twelve are barred from the pool unless an adult is present.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Fitted with bars, or blocked by a bar or crossbar.

   Grammar: Comes before the noun it describes: barred windows, a barred gate.

   Patterns

   • barred window
   • barred gate

   The old jail had narrow barred windows high up on the wall.

   A barred gate stood across the lane.

   The shop kept its barred door locked after dark.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nounbiology

   Marked with stripes or bands of a different color, especially on feathers or fur.

   Grammar: Used before nouns for patterns on animals: a barred owl.

   Patterns

   • barred owl
   • barred feathers

   The barred owl calls from the woods at dusk.

   The hen had barred feathers in black and white.

   A barred pattern ran along the fish's flanks.

Common combinations

barred from entering

Reporters were barred from entering the courtroom.

barred from competing

The team was barred from competing for two seasons.

barred windows

The barred windows made the house look like a fortress.

barred owl

We spotted a barred owl perched on a fence post.

permanently barred

He was permanently barred from the profession after the scandal.

Synonyms and how they differ

banned

Banned often applies to a general prohibition on an activity or item, while barred is more often about keeping a particular person out.

excluded

Excluded is milder and suggests being left out, not necessarily by a formal order.

prohibited

Prohibited is formal and describes a thing that is forbidden, whereas barred usually describes a person who is kept out.

blacklisted

Blacklisted implies being placed on a list of people to avoid, which is more deliberate and often secret.

Opposites

Word family

bar verb

to prevent someone from entering or doing something

disbar verb

to remove a lawyer's right to practice

unbarred adjective

not blocked or fitted with bars

barring preposition

unless something happens, as in barring accidents

Commonly confused: barred or bared?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “barred”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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