barcode

noun

bar·​code ˈbär-ˌkōd How to pronounce barcode (audio)
variants or less commonly bar code
plural barcodes also bar codes
1
: a code consisting of a group of printed and variously patterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (such as identification) about the object it labels
… one version of the barcode reader used in supermarkets employs a laser scanner.Science
I on the other hand boarded the traditional way. I handed my paper printout to the airport personnel, who scanned the barcode before letting me proceed.Sanjeeb Patel
2
biology : something (such as a DNA sequence) that uniquely identifies a species of organism
… they now plan to analyze each fish sample by decoding a certain tiny piece of DNA that can serve as a unique bar code for the species.Christen Brownlee
bar-coded adjective
bar coding noun

Examples of barcode in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Businesses can maintain the quality of the flowers by monitoring and controlling the temperature fluctuations throughout the supply chain by utilizing barcodes and sensor technologies. Oyku Ilgar, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 There are barcode tattoos, barcode conspiracy theories, barcode presidential scandals, and buildings on four continents designed to resemble barcodes. Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2024 In this method, scientists pull out individual cells from a piece of tissue, break them open to expose the genetic messengers inside, then use tags akin to tiny barcodes to identify that material. Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2023 Such dizzying choices are made possible by an amazing piece of technology: the barcode. Saahil Desai, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2024 To address the problem, the team made small, 30-nucleotide-long DNA snippets that acted like unique barcodes for different biomarkers. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2023 Products: Find out the name and details of products by scanning their barcodes. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 16 Dec. 2023 Shopkick Shopkick offers user reward points, called kicks, for shopping at its partner stores or scanning barcodes on select products with its mobile app. Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2023 The team trained algorithms to identify the nucleic acid sequence of each unique barcode from the jumble of signals created as multiple barcodes from different biomarkers are read simultaneously. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barcode.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of barcode was in 1963

Dictionary Entries Near barcode

Cite this Entry

“Barcode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barcode. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bar code

noun
: a code made up of a group of printed and variously spaced bars and sometimes numerals that is designed to be scanned and read into computer memory and that contains information (as identification) about the object it labels
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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