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Definition of barn owl

barn owl

Plural:barn owls
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• noun

1

A widely distributed, pale-colored nocturnal bird of prey (family Tytonidae) native to regions worldwide, characterized by a distinctive heart-shaped facial disc, a lack of ear tufts, and a raspy, eerie call.

Example

"The farmer was pleased to see a barn owl roosting in the rafters, knowing it would help control the local rodent population."

• Nearby Words

barman
barmy
barn
barn owl
barn swallow
barnacle
barnacled

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Barn owl. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/barn-owl
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