barrack

1 of 3

noun

bar·​rack ˈber-ək How to pronounce barrack (audio)
-ik;
ˈba-rək,
-rik
1
: a building or set of buildings used especially for lodging soldiers in garrison
usually used in plural
2
a
: a structure resembling a shed or barn that provides temporary housing
usually used in plural
b
: housing characterized by extreme plainness or dreary uniformity
usually used in plural

barrack

2 of 3

verb (1)

barracked; barracking; barracks

transitive verb

: to lodge in barracks

barrack

3 of 3

verb (2)

barracked; barracking; barracks

transitive verb

chiefly British
: to shout at derisively or sarcastically

intransitive verb

1
chiefly Australia : root, cheer
usually used with for
2
chiefly British : jeer, scoff
barracker noun

Examples of barrack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The chapel and long barrack are all that remain of the original compound, Lanham said, thanks to early 20th-century preservationists who fought to save them from development. Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025 Frank Bonito, 68, of Haddam turned himself in at the Troop F barracks in Westbrook where troopers had a warrant out for his arrest, according to Connecticut State Police. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
Villa’s supporters revelled in his struggles as the game went on, booing and barracking. Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 Simone studied Sanskrit, did social outreach with Indo-Chinese factory workers barracked in a prison, and joined a Resistance network. Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for barrack

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French baraque hut, from Catalan barraca

Verb (2)

perhaps from dialect (northern Ireland) barrack to brag

First Known Use

Noun

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb (1)

1701, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1885, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of barrack was in 1686

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barrack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barrack. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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