BARREN definition: 1. unable to produce plants or fruit: 2. unable to have children or young animals 3. not creating…. Learn more.

Jan 14, 2026 · barren (plural barrens) An area of low fertility and habitation, a desolate place. quotations

Define barren. barren synonyms, barren pronunciation, barren translation, English dictionary definition of barren. unproductive; unfruitful; not producing results; infertile: The queen was barren.

Recommended for you

Definition of barren adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

If you describe something such as an activity or a period of your life as barren, you mean that you achieve no success during it or that it has no useful results.

Unproductive and incapable of supporting the growth of plants or vegetation. See example sentences, synonyms, and etymology for the adjective barren.

BARREN definition: not producing or incapable of producing offspring; sterile. See examples of barren used in a sentence.

barren /ˈbærən/ adj incapable of producing offspring, seed, or fruit; sterile: a barren tree unable to support the growth of crops, etc; unproductive; bare: barren land lacking in stimulation or ideas; dull …

There are 14 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word barren, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

barren /ˈbærən/ adj incapable of producing offspring, seed, or fruit; sterile: a barren tree unable to support the growth of crops, etc; unproductive; bare: barren land lacking in stimulation or ideas; dull …

There are 14 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word barren, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

You may also like