barren

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈbærən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: baron (in some accents)

Adjective

Positive barren

Comparative barrener

Superlative barrenest

Positive barren

Comparative more barren

Superlative most barren

1. (not comparable) If a woman is barren, she is unable to bear children.
   • Synonym: sterile
   • Antonym: fertile

   I silently wept as my daughter's husband rejected her. What would she do now that she was no longer a maiden but also barren?

2. If a piece of land is barren, it is not producing vegetation.
3. If a place is barren, it is dull and lifeless.
   • Synonym: bleak

Noun

Singular barren

Plural barrens

1. A barren is an area of low fertility and habitation.

   The pine barrens are a site lonely enough to suit any hermit.