barbarian

Everyday

1. (history) A name the ancient Greeks and Romans gave to people from outside their world, whom they saw as wild and uncivilised. tree →
2. A person who behaves in a very cruel, violent or rough way. tree →
3. (informal, jokey) A person with bad manners or no taste: "You put ketchup on that? You barbarian!" tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons the "barbarians", such as Goths, Vandals and Huns, attacked the Roman Empire; pupils learn that the Romans used the word in a biased way about people with their own cultures. In stories barbarians are fierce warriors. In everyday talk the word is often a joke about bad manners. Phrases: barbarian tribes, at the gates (enemies close by).

Examples

• The Romans built walls to keep out the barbarians. tree →
• The Greeks called foreigners barbarians because their speech sounded like "bar-bar". tree →
• Barbarian tribes attacked Rome. tree →
• "Who eats pizza with pineapple? Barbarians!" joked my uncle. tree →
• Only a barbarian would hurt an animal for fun. tree →
• The Vikings were seen as barbarians by the monks they raided. tree →
• Had his thoughts ventured to fly with the ships of the barbarians, to their homes in far distant England? tree →

Note

Countable: a barbarian, barbarians. Related: barbaric (very cruel), barbarous, barbarism. Fairness note: the word was used by one side to look down on others; the so-called barbarians had their own laws, art and skills.