barbarian
A barbarian is a term that historically referred to a foreigner or a person outside a dominant civilization, especially in ancient Greek and Roman usage.
A barbarian is a term that historically referred to a foreigner or a person outside a dominant civilization, especially in ancient Greek and Roman usage. In modern English, it is usually a pejorative word for someone considered uncivilized, cruel, or lacking refinement. The word is also used more broadly in historical, literary, and fantasy contexts.
Etymology
The word is derived from Greek *bárbaros*, originally used for people who spoke different languages and were seen as outsiders. Britannica notes that the term likely had an imitative origin, reflecting how foreign speech sounded to Greek ears.
Historical usage
In ancient Greek usage, the word designated non-Greeks, and the Romans extended it to peoples outside Greco-Roman influence. Over time, it acquired strongly negative associations with violence and cultural inferiority.
Modern meaning
In present-day English, *barbarian* usually means a person considered uncivilized, crude, or lacking culture and refinement. Dictionaries consistently mark the term as disapproving or insulting.
Cultural usage
The term appears in historical writing, translated classical texts, and fantasy settings, where it may refer to a fierce outsider or warrior archetype. In these contexts, the meaning is often shaped by older classical and colonial assumptions.
Key facts
- The term comes from Greek *bárbaros*, used for foreigners.
- In ancient Greece, it referred to non-Greeks; in the Roman world, it came to describe peoples outside Greco-Roman civilization.
- Modern dictionaries define it as a rude, crude, uncivilized, or uncultured person.
- The word is typically insulting or disapproving in contemporary use.
- It can also describe something perceived as uncivilized, crude, or lacking refinement.
The term appears in Canadian English with the same meanings found in other varieties of English, mainly as a historical term or a pejorative description of uncivilized behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
What does “barbarian” mean?
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Does it ever refer to a fantasy character type?
References
- Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/barbarianSupports: Etymology and ancient Greek/Roman historical usage of the term.
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barbarianSupports: Modern definitions and pejorative sense.
- Oxford Learner's Dictionaries — https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/barbarianSupports: Historical meaning and modern derogatory usage.
- Britannica Dictionary — https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/barbarianSupports: Contemporary definition as uncivilized or rude.
- Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/barbarianSupports: Modern usage and disapproving connotation.
- Wiktionary — https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/barbarianSupports: Broader historical, derogatory, and fantasy-related senses.