debar

/dɪˈbɑː(ɹ)/

//dɪˈbɑː(ɹ)// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"debar" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“debar” is an uncommon English word, ranked #99,163 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#99,163
frequency rank, English
5
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To exclude or shut out; to bar.

Key facts for debar
PropertyValue
Headworddebar
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/dɪˈbɑː(ɹ)/
Letters5
Frequency rank#99,163
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “debar” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). debar lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for debar is 5 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dɪˈbɑː(ɹ)/. Corpus data places it at rank #99,163 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Zero misspellings are on record for debar in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Anglo-Norman debarrer. The correct English form is debar, spelled D-E-B-A-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    To exclude or shut out; to bar.
  2. 2
    To hinder or prevent.
  3. 3
    To prohibit (a person or company that has been convicted of criminal acts in connection with a government program) from future participation in that program.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman debarrer.

This word in other languages

ausschließen(Deutsch)barrar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "debar"?
"debar" is spelled D-E-B-A-R. The IPA pronunciation is /dɪˈbɑː(ɹ)/.
What does "debar" mean?
As a verb, "debar" means: To exclude or shut out; to bar.
How do you pronounce "debar"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "debar" is /dɪˈbɑː(ɹ)/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "debar"?
From Anglo-Norman debarrer. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “debar”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-E-B-A-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /dɪˈbɑː(ɹ)/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list