Barbarism Meaning
/ˈbɑː(ɹ)bəɹɪz(ə)m/, /ˈbɑɹbəˈɹɪzm̩/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA barbaric act.
"These barbarisms can not be allowed to continue; they must be crushed or civilization will collapse."
nounThe condition of existing barbarically.
"Like dancing, it is a remnant of ancient barbarism—fit for the days of the Chaldeans or the Babylonians, when people were only amused through their eyes—the sole entertainment of which savage nations are susceptible."— 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter V, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, pages 42–43:
nounA word hybridizing Ancient Greek and Latin or other heterogeneous roots.
nounAn error in language use within a single word, such as a mispronunciation.
"In the jargon of the ancient grammarian, penacilin would be a barbarism."
Sentence Examples
Each man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice.
Much reading has brought upon us a learned barbarism.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The historian described the period of widespread looting as pure ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The whole region fell into ____ after the fall of the central power.
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The historian described the period of widespread looting as pure ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The whole region fell into ____ after the fall of the central power.