Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

barratry

/ˈbæɹətɹi/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.17 in modern English

Syllables: bar-ra-try
IPA: /ˈbæɹətɹi/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The act of persistently instigating lawsuits, often groundless ones.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The sale or purchase of religious or political positions of power.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Unlawful or fraudulent acts by the crew of a vessel, harming the vessel's owner.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"[Deacon Mushrat to Pogo:] The Machiavellian barratry of a pettifogging public has maundered into do-nothingism."

Etymology

Early 15th century, in sense “sale of offices”, from Old French baraterie (“deceit, trickery”), from barat (“fraud, deceit, trickery”), of unknown origin, perhaps Celtic. In marine sense of “unlawful acts causing loss to owner”, 1620s.

Origin

Source language: Old French

Word Breakdown

Root: baraterie, -

Usage

Inflected Forms

barratries (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

barrator barratrous barratrously champerty simony

Synonyms

simony

Questions

How do you pronounce barratry?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbæɹətɹi/.
What does barratry mean?: The act of persistently instigating lawsuits, often groundless ones.
Where does barratry come from?: It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce barratry

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