barney
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: barny
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A lark, a romp, some fun.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A hoax, a humbug, something that is not genuine, a rigged or unfair sporting contest.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
A noisy argument.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “barney” mean?
A lark, a romp, some fun.
Is “barney” formal or informal?
barney is generally slang.