# Barbary

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /ˈbɑː(ɹ)bəɹi/ · frequency rank #46,329

## Definitions
1. The Mediterranean coastal areas of North Africa that were used as a base by pirates in the 16th to 19th centuries.

## Etymology
From Berber + -y, influenced by barbary (“barbarian, non-Christian”). See also Arabic بَرْبَرِيّ (barbariyy, “Berber”).

## Easily confused with
- **Barry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbary-vs-barry)
- **barber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbary-vs-barber)
- **Barbra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbary-vs-barbra)
- **Barnard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbary-vs-barnard)
- **Barnaby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbary-vs-barnaby)
- **bursary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbary-vs-bursary)
- **Barbara** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbara-vs-barbary)
- **Banbury** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banbury-vs-barbary)
- **barbaric** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbaric-vs-barbary)

## Common misspellings (11)
`abrbary`, `babrary`, `barabry`, `barbarry`, `barbaryy`, `barbayr`, `barbbary`, `barbray`, `barrbary`, `bbarbary`, `brabary`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/barbary