# Barry

/ˈbæɹi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/barry
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for men, or a family name.

For teachers: a male given name of Irish origin, or a surname derived from Irish, Scottish, or Welsh place names.

- Barry and his brother decided to go for a walk in the park.
- The author Barry Lopez is widely celebrated for his profound reflections on the relationship between human culture and the natural landscape.

### 2. a place name

noun · CEFR B1

the name of several towns or locations, most famously a town in Wales.

For teachers: a toponym referring to various locations, most notably a town and community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.

- We took the train to Barry to spend the day at the beach.
- The port of Barry became one of the world's largest coal-exporting gateways during the height of the industrial revolution in South Wales.

### 3. heraldry pattern

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a pattern on a shield or flag made of horizontal stripes of two different colours.

For teachers: a field divided into an even number of horizontal parts of alternating tinctures.

- The knight's shield featured a barry pattern of silver and blue.
- The coat of arms is described as barry of six, argent and azure, representing the family's ancient maritime connections.

Usage: Usually followed by 'of' and a number to indicate how many stripes are present.

### 4. having stripes

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

having bars or bands of different colours.

For teachers: marked by or consisting of transverse bars or bands of colour.

- The designer chose a barry fabric for the new curtains.
- The specimen was identified by its distinct barry markings, which served as a natural camouflage against the dappled light of the forest floor.

## Examples

- My neighbor Barry is a very friendly man.
- The office manager, Barry, organized the annual holiday party for all the staff members.
- While the name Barry reached its peak popularity in the mid-twentieth century, it remains a recognizable fixture in cultural references to a specific generation of working-class men.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.