barred

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "barred" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word "barred" to refer to someone or something that has been denied access or prevented from doing or entering something. For example, "She was barred from entering the building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But being trapped first in his body and then being barred from work and often unable to communicate proved unbearable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nearly 15 million people are living under some form of water rationing, barred from freely sprinkling their lawns or refilling their swimming pools.

The Guardian

Richard Mawrey QC ruled on Thursday that Rahman would be barred from running for office for five years and said the 2014 Tower Hamlets mayoral election would have to be rerun.

The Guardian

He was released later that year but was barred from standing for office until April this year.

The Guardian

Smyth was told she would have to pay compensation and would be barred from the area around the clinic on Great Victoria Street in Belfast.

The Guardian

Independent candidates have been barred from running by recent reforms.

The Guardian

After Friday's historic referendum, in which the Republic's voters endorsed same-sex marriage by 2-1, NoremainsIreland remains the last country in western Europe where LGBT couples are barred from getting married [see footnote].

The Guardian

Related: Florida banned state workers from using term 'climate change' – report A report published on Sunday by the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting (FCIR) quoted six people, five by name, who had worked for or with the DEP as saying that the agency barred employees and contractors from using the phrases "global warming" and "climate change".

The Guardian

A late sitting of the Australian high court in Sydney barred the sending to Sri Lanka of 153 asylum seekers on board a second boat until 4pm on Tuesday, or further order of the court.

The Guardian

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg also tried to claim that he had not been asked along by the broadcasters, saying he had been barred because he was from a party of government.

The Guardian

The only new substance in the story was that "less able" children were to be barred from sitting the papers, siphoned off to something more like the old CSE, to which – it was plain – no thought had been given.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "barred", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is doing the barring and who or what is being barred.

Common error

Avoid using "barred" without specifying the extent of the restriction. For example, instead of just saying "He was barred", clarify "He was barred from entering the country" or "He was barred from running for office."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "barred" is as a past participle adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate a state of being prevented or prohibited from something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this word is used to deny access or prevent certain actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "barred" functions primarily as an adjective, signifying that someone or something has been prevented or prohibited from a certain action or place. Ludwig AI confirms its standard usage in English. Analysis of example sentences reveals that "barred" is most frequently found in news and media contexts, indicating legal or regulatory restrictions, although it also appears in formal business and scientific writing. As shown by the range of contexts in which the term appears, it is a versatile word used to express a variety of prohibitions and restrictions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prohibited

Replaces "barred" with a more formal synonym.

forbidden

Another common synonym for "barred", implying a lack of permission.

banned

Indicates an official or legal prohibition.

excluded

Focuses on being kept out or prevented from participating.

prevented

Highlights the action of stopping something from happening.

disallowed

Implies that something was previously allowed but is no longer.

restricted

Suggests limitations or constraints are in place.

ineligible

Focuses on not meeting the requirements or qualifications.

off-limits

An informal way of saying something is not allowed.

out of bounds

Similar to "off-limits", suggesting a physical or metaphorical boundary.

FAQs

How can I use "barred" in a sentence?

You can use "barred" to indicate that someone or something is prevented or prohibited from doing something or accessing a place. For example, "He was "barred from" entering the competition."

What's a more formal synonym for "barred"?

A more formal alternative to "barred" is "prohibited". For example, "Smoking is prohibited in this area" is more formal than "Smoking is barred in this area."

Which is correct: "barred to" or "barred from"?

"Barred from" is the correct preposition to use with "barred". For example, "He was "barred from" the premises" is correct. "Barred to" is not standard usage.

What's the difference between "banned" and "barred"?

While "banned" and "barred" are often used interchangeably, "banned" typically implies a more official or legal prohibition, while "barred" can be used in a broader range of contexts. For example, a country might ban a certain product, while someone might be "barred from" a specific event.