barber's

Word family

• barber
  nounB1
• barbershop
  nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Barber's' is a British-style way to mean a barber's shop, especially in everyday phrases like 'I'm going to the barber's.' 'Barbershop' names the same kind of place more directly and is much more common in American English. 'Hairdresser's' can overlap, but it often suggests a place focused on cutting, washing, and styling hair for a wider range of customers, not just traditional barber services such as trims and beard work. 'Salon' is broader still: it often implies extra beauty treatments and a more polished, modern setting. If Jude wants a simple trim and beard tidy-up, he might go to the barber's. If Abigail is booking colouring and styling, she is more likely to choose a salon or hairdresser's.

Common collocations

Etymology

This form is a shortened way of saying 'barber's shop'. English often uses a possessive form like this to mean the business owned or run by a person, as in 'the baker's' or 'the chemist's'. The noun 'barber' came into English from Old French, from a Latin word meaning 'beard', which reflects the trade's long connection with shaving and beard care.