bar meaning, definition, and synonyms

Bar is a very common English word with many meanings. It can refer to a place that serves drinks, a solid piece of material, a legal profession, a musical measure, or several different kinds of physical obstruction or restriction.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /bɑr/

Easy pronunciation: BAR (approximate spelling).

Stress: One syllable; stress falls on the only syllable.

This is the pronunciation for the noun meaning a place that serves alcoholic drinks.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Bar Meaning

a place where people go to buy and drink alcohol

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

Example: We met at a bar after work.

Synonyms for this meaning:

barroom — A place serving drinks; more old-fashioned or specific than bar.
ginmill — An informal word for a bar, often suggesting a rough or casual place.
saloon — A drinking place, especially in older or regional usage.
taproom — A room where drinks are served, especially beer.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Bar

Meaning 2

a solid stick or block of something

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)

Example: She ate a bar of chocolate.

Synonyms for this meaning:

cake — Can mean a solid block or lump, but not always a direct substitute.

Meaning 3

all the licensed lawyers in a place

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the body of individuals qualified to practice law in a particular jurisdiction

Example: He was admitted to the bar in New Jersey.

Synonyms for this meaning:

legal community — Related to lawyers, but broader and less exact than bar.
legal profession — A good match for the profession of lawyers as a group.

Meaning 4

stop someone from entering or taking part

Part of speech: verb

Definition: prevent from entering; keep out

Example: She was barred from the meeting.

Synonyms for this meaning:

debar — A direct synonym in formal usage.
exclude — A clear substitute when the meaning is to keep out.

Meaning 5

block the way so people or things cannot pass

Part of speech: verb

Definition: render unsuitable for passage

Example: Flooding barred the road.

Synonyms for this meaning:

barricade — Works when the path is blocked with a barrier.
block — A common direct substitute.
block off — Good when an area or route is closed off.
block up — Used when an opening or passage is closed.
blockade — Stronger and more specific, often for military or formal use.
stop — Broader word; works in some contexts but is less precise.

Meaning 6

something that stops or prevents an action

Part of speech: noun

Definition: the act of preventing

Example: There was no bar against leaving early.

Synonyms for this meaning:

prevention — A close match for the idea of preventing something.

Meaning 7

formally force someone out or send them away

Part of speech: verb

Definition: expel, as if by official decree

Example: He was barred from the country.

Synonyms for this meaning:

banish — A good match when someone is officially sent away.
relegate — Can fit in some formal contexts, but it more often means to move to a lower rank.

Meaning 8

a line or unit in music that divides the beat pattern

Part of speech: noun

Definition: musical notation for a repeating pattern of musical beats

Example: The orchestra skipped the last four bars.

Synonyms for this meaning:

measure — A common term for the same unit in music.

Meaning 9

a thin line or stripe on a surface

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a narrow marking of a different color or texture from the background

Example: The bird had black bars across its wings.

Synonyms for this meaning:

streak — A thin mark or line; works well in many cases.
stripe — A strong match for a long, narrow marking.

Meaning 10

a serving counter for food or drinks

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a counter where you can obtain food or drink

Example: We grabbed coffee at the bar.

Meaning 11

one of the heating rods in an electric heater

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a heating element in an electric fire

Example: The heater has three bars.

Meaning 12

a long rod used in gymnastics

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a horizontal rod that serves as a support for gymnasts as they perform exercises

Example: She trained on the uneven bars.

Meaning 13

the crosspiece of a goal

Part of speech: noun

Definition: an obstruction (usually metal) placed at the top of a goal

Example: The shot bounced off the bar.

Meaning 14

a rigid rod or strip of metal or wood

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a rigid piece of metal or wood; usually used as a fastening or obstruction or weapon

Example: The windows were fitted with bars.

Meaning 15

a shallow ridge of sand or earth under water

Part of speech: noun

Definition: a submerged (or partly submerged) ridge in a river or along a shore

Example: The boat hit a sand bar.

Meaning 16

the barrier separating the courtroom area

Part of speech: noun

Definition: (law) a railing that encloses the part of the courtroom where the judges and lawyers sit and the case is tried

Example: The witness stepped up to the bar.

Meaning 17

a unit used to measure pressure

Part of speech: noun

Definition: (meteorology) a unit of pressure equal to a million dynes per square centimeter

Example: The pressure was measured in bars.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Bar Synonyms

Similar Meaning

barroom
ginmill
saloon
taproom

legal profession / lawyers as a group

legal profession
legal community

prevent from entering

debar
exclude

block or obstruct passage

barricade
block
block off
block up
blockade
stop

preventing; prohibition

prevention

expel officially

banish
relegate

music measure

measure

a narrow mark or stripe

streak
stripe

a solid block or stick of material

cake

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

Confusing bar meaning a drinking place with bar meaning a legal profession or courtroom railing.
Using bar for any place that sells food; sense 11 is a counter, not a drinking establishment.
Mixing up bar as a musical measure with bar as a solid object or obstruction.
Assuming every synonym listed for a sense works in all contexts.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common meaning of bar?

The most common everyday meaning is a place where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.

Is bar a noun or a verb?

Bar can be both. It is a noun in senses like a drinking place, a solid block, or a legal profession, and a verb meaning to block, exclude, or prevent.

What are the best synonyms for bar meaning a drinking place?

Good practical synonyms include barroom, ginmill, saloon, and taproom, though some are informal, old-fashioned, or regional.

Does bar always mean the same thing in law?

No. In law, bar can mean the legal profession as a group, or the railing that separates the courtroom area.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.