Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

barong

American  
[bah-rawng, -rong, buh-] / bɑˈrɔŋ, -ˈrɒŋ, bə- /

noun

  1. a large, broad-bladed knife or cleaver used by the Moros.


barong British  
/ bæˈrɒŋ /

noun

  1. a broad-bladed cleaver-like knife used in the Philippines

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of barong

First recorded in 1840–50; apparently Philippine variant of parang

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A DJ, dressed in a traditional barong, blasts a dance remix of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” as a crowd gathers to take a shot of fish sauce together.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Near the altar, my dad waits for her dressed in a white barong, the traditional formalwear for Filipino men.

From Seattle Times • May 4, 2024

On the rare occasions when he wore a barong, a formal embroidered shirt, he rolled up the sleeves.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 13, 2016

Filipinos wear the "barong" shirt on formal occasions too, but with sleeves buttoned down at the wrists.

From US News • Sep. 6, 2016

He wore a barong, a sheer ivory shirt made from pineapple fabric that Filipinos wear to weddings and baptisms and things.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio