Bar•ren adj ˈber-ən, ˈba-rən 1: not reproducing: as a : incapable of producing offspring —used especially of females or matings b : not yet or not recently pregnant: habitually failing to fruit 2: not productive: as a : producing little or no vegetation : desolate b : producing inferior crops c : unproductive of results or gain : fruitless a: adjective b: adverb c: noun d: verb