barberry

noun

bar·​ber·​ry ˈbär-ˌber-ē How to pronounce barberry (audio)
-ˌbe-rē
: any of a genus (Berberis of the family Berberidaceae, the barberry family) of shrubs usually having spines, usually yellow flowers, and oblong red or blackish berries

Examples of barberry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Three former fields will be burned to help renew the grassland and reduce the spread of invasive plants such as Asiatic bittersweet, Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, and autumn olive. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 2026 Berberine Berberine is a natural compound found in plants like goldenseal and barberry. Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2026 Scientists have found that the prevalence of one invasive plant, Japanese barberry, correlates with the presence of ticks that transmit Lyme disease. Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 26 Jan. 2026 Common garden shrubs that are invasive include barberry, burning bush, Callery pear, buckthorn and Japanese honeysuckle. Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barberry

Word History

Etymology

Middle English berberie, from Medieval Latin berberis, from Arabic barbārīs

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of barberry was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barberry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barberry. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

barberry

noun
bar·​ber·​ry ˈbär-ˌber-ē How to pronounce barberry (audio)
: any of a genus of spiny yellow-flowered shrubs with bright red or blackish berries

Medical Definition

barberry

noun
bar·​ber·​ry
British often & US sometimes
ˈbär-ˌber-ē How to pronounce barberry (audio)
-ˌbe-rē
plural barberries
1
: any shrub of the genus Berberis (especially B. aquifolium)
2

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