What does "barker" mean?
Someone or something who barks.
Barker
/ˈbɑː(ɹ)kɚ/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone or something who barks.
- Grammar: barker is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: auteur, ballyhoo man, ballyhooer, bow-wow.
- Useful contrasts: customer, patron.
- Usage evidence: A dog who is a good barker is not a good dog.
How to use "barker"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "barker" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "barker" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "barker" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "barker" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "barker" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "auteur" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "barker", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone or something who barks.
"My neighbor's dog is a constant barker that keeps me awake at night."
- 2 A person who removes needed or valuable tree bark, as on a cinnamon or cinchona plantation. historical
"The profession of barker has been made largely obsolete by the realization that in most cases saplings can be cultivated far more profitably."
- 3 informal terms for dogs wordnet
- 4 A person employed to solicit customers by calling out to passersby, e.g. at a carnival.
"Bob had amassed a considerable stockpile of double entendres from his days working as a barker for a strip joint."
- 5 A tanner. obsolete
"The profession of barker has been made largely obsolete by the introduction of more effective tanning agents, but it lives on as a surname."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 someone who stands in front of a show (as at a carnival) and gives a loud colorful sales talk to potential customers wordnet
- 7 A shelf-talker.
- 8 A machine used to remove unneeded bark from wood.
"Run these logs through the barker so we can use them as fence posts."
- 9 A video game mode where the action is demonstrated to entice someone to play the game.
"The barker looks action-packed, but actually playing the game is rather dull."
- 10 A pistol. dated, slang
"Barney, opening a cupboard, brought forth several articles, which he hastily crammed into the pockets. “Barkers for me, Barney," said Toby Crackit. “Here they are,” replied Barney, producing a pair of pistols."
- 11 The spotted redshank.
Proper Noun
- 1 An English surname originating as an occupation.
- 2 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Broome County, New York.
- 3 A number of places in the United States:; A village in Niagara County, New York.
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Harris County, Texas.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Wetzel County, West Virginia.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A village in Colonia department, Uruguay.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"A dog who is a good barker is not a good dog."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "barker"?
Common synonyms include: auteur, ballyhoo man, ballyhooer, bow-wow, callboy, canvasser.
How do you use "barker" in a sentence?
A dog who is a good barker is not a good dog.
How do you pronounce "barker"?
Pronounced /ˈbɑː(ɹ)kɚ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English berkere; equivalent to bark (“dog noise”) + -er.
Etymology 2
From Middle English barker; equivalent to bark (“surface of tree”) + -er.
Etymology 3
From Middle English barker (“shepherd; tanner”).