<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with the Workiva Platform-->
<!--Copyright 2026 Workiva-->
<!--r:019fa378-c95a-7806-913e-8b3d784ecf6e,g:7db10be6-3b31-4f3b-a803-7a3f2374c945-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xbrldt="http://xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#all"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#hypercube-dimension"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-default"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#dimension-domain"/>
  <link:arcroleRef arcroleURI="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="http://www.xbrl.org/2005/xbrldt-2005.xsd#domain-member"/>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofEquity" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofEquity"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsofEquity" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7d05-bf24-07d8ce18b946" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019fa378-ca1c-778c-b0ad-11bcdc2efd58" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7d05-bf24-07d8ce18b946" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019fa378-ca1c-778c-b0ad-11bcdc2efd58" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019fa378-ca1c-721a-ae13-f25b4814fd1c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementTable_019fa378-ca1c-778c-b0ad-11bcdc2efd58" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019fa378-ca1c-721a-ae13-f25b4814fd1c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-721a-ae13-f25b4814fd1c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019fa378-ca1c-721a-ae13-f25b4814fd1c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-721a-ae13-f25b4814fd1c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-74e4-acdf-833a13480ee8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_019fa378-ca1c-721a-ae13-f25b4814fd1c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-74e4-acdf-833a13480ee8" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019fa378-ca1c-7bd5-a028-7070c2df09dc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-74e4-acdf-833a13480ee8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_019fa378-ca1c-7bd5-a028-7070c2df09dc" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019fa378-ca1c-77d4-95d6-f8b9231cd523" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-74e4-acdf-833a13480ee8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_019fa378-ca1c-77d4-95d6-f8b9231cd523" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019fa378-ca1c-7ae1-a5d3-ea0f9964f8c5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-74e4-acdf-833a13480ee8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember_019fa378-ca1c-7ae1-a5d3-ea0f9964f8c5" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember_019fa378-ca1c-7b06-bfc0-44a28e789648" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-74e4-acdf-833a13480ee8" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonMember_019fa378-ca1c-7b06-bfc0-44a28e789648" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7d05-bf24-07d8ce18b946" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued_019fa378-ca1c-7f5f-866f-532276cc9e38" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued_019fa378-ca1c-7f5f-866f-532276cc9e38" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019fa378-ca1c-7c83-954b-7ea3f1c9c277" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019fa378-ca1c-7c83-954b-7ea3f1c9c277" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares_019fa378-ca1c-720f-ad1b-b75cf1182348" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares_019fa378-ca1c-720f-ad1b-b75cf1182348" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019fa378-ca1c-74bd-a574-d319256f4acd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue_019fa378-ca1c-74bd-a574-d319256f4acd" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures_019fa378-ca1c-7448-9199-d556873caf27" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures_019fa378-ca1c-7448-9199-d556873caf27" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures_01a03877-7c48-7acd-85fa-25f40e6859d3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures_01a03877-7c48-7acd-85fa-25f40e6859d3" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalDividendsInExcessOfRetainedEarnings_01a05fc5-fb56-7144-8026-886516852a94" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalDividendsInExcessOfRetainedEarnings"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalDividendsInExcessOfRetainedEarnings_01a05fc5-fb56-7144-8026-886516852a94" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019fa378-ca1c-7761-bf0d-911102aff291" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInStockholdersEquityRollForward_019fa378-ca1c-7905-8864-80612511a317" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019fa378-ca1c-7761-bf0d-911102aff291" xlink:type="arc" order="8"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued_019fa378-ca1c-780a-99a9-74b0f8bbcc80" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesIssued"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockholdersEquity_019fa378-ca1c-76e2-bb0f-120456800794" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockholdersEquity"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares_019fa378-ca1c-7f48-9665-7e7c81a7bae1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TreasuryStockCommonShares"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/RevenueDisaggregationofRevenueDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#RevenueDisaggregationofRevenueDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/RevenueDisaggregationofRevenueDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-78cb-aef3-23a3f7cbd9fe" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019fa378-ca1c-73d1-bd70-9578e0b09ffc" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-78cb-aef3-23a3f7cbd9fe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019fa378-ca1c-73d1-bd70-9578e0b09ffc" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019fa378-ca1c-734e-ab09-e2cd1b8173c4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductOrServiceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueTable_019fa378-ca1c-73d1-bd70-9578e0b09ffc" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019fa378-ca1c-734e-ab09-e2cd1b8173c4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019fa378-ca1c-734e-ab09-e2cd1b8173c4_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019fa378-ca1c-734e-ab09-e2cd1b8173c4" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019fa378-ca1c-734e-ab09-e2cd1b8173c4_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019fa378-ca1c-770a-b319-7f03d356d18e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductOrServiceAxis_019fa378-ca1c-734e-ab09-e2cd1b8173c4" xlink:to="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019fa378-ca1c-770a-b319-7f03d356d18e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_ProductAndOtherSalesMember_019fa378-ca1c-7f8a-893e-c18f35076764" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_ProductAndOtherSalesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_ProductsAndServicesDomain_019fa378-ca1c-770a-b319-7f03d356d18e" xlink:to="loc_bned_ProductAndOtherSalesMember_019fa378-ca1c-7f8a-893e-c18f35076764" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_CourseMaterialsProductMember_019fa378-ca1c-741f-b536-93bc67f1e2ae" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_CourseMaterialsProductMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_bned_ProductAndOtherSalesMember_019fa378-ca1c-7f8a-893e-c18f35076764" xlink:to="loc_bned_CourseMaterialsProductMember_019fa378-ca1c-741f-b536-93bc67f1e2ae" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_GeneralMerchandiseProductMember_019fa378-ca1c-7cae-a75c-9e89fcb70edb" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_GeneralMerchandiseProductMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_bned_ProductAndOtherSalesMember_019fa378-ca1c-7f8a-893e-c18f35076764" xlink:to="loc_bned_GeneralMerchandiseProductMember_019fa378-ca1c-7cae-a75c-9e89fcb70edb" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_ServiceandOtherMember_019fa378-ca1c-7e4b-a0a5-5cdd9ba7177c" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_ServiceandOtherMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_bned_ProductAndOtherSalesMember_019fa378-ca1c-7f8a-893e-c18f35076764" xlink:to="loc_bned_ServiceandOtherMember_019fa378-ca1c-7e4b-a0a5-5cdd9ba7177c" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019fa378-ca1c-7ba3-9e7a-5b71627d7ebf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-78cb-aef3-23a3f7cbd9fe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax_019fa378-ca1c-7ba3-9e7a-5b71627d7ebf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome_019fa378-ca1c-73a3-b633-0cb2787967b1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-78cb-aef3-23a3f7cbd9fe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome_019fa378-ca1c-73a3-b633-0cb2787967b1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019fa378-ca1c-71f0-9f18-07faa21c1545" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DisaggregationOfRevenueLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-78cb-aef3-23a3f7cbd9fe" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019fa378-ca1c-71f0-9f18-07faa21c1545" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/SegmentReportingScheduleofSegmentReportingInformationDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#SegmentReportingScheduleofSegmentReportingInformationDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/SegmentReportingScheduleofSegmentReportingInformationDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019fa378-ca1c-7263-80f0-a7dc0d860cae" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019fa378-ca1c-7263-80f0-a7dc0d860cae" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019fa378-ca1c-794e-8c14-644aa7c2c7b1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfSegmentReportingInformationBySegmentTable_019fa378-ca1c-7263-80f0-a7dc0d860cae" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019fa378-ca1c-794e-8c14-644aa7c2c7b1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-794e-8c14-644aa7c2c7b1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019fa378-ca1c-794e-8c14-644aa7c2c7b1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-794e-8c14-644aa7c2c7b1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7c31-9a33-10cde6f253ce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis_019fa378-ca1c-794e-8c14-644aa7c2c7b1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7c31-9a33-10cde6f253ce" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_ReportableSegmentMember_019fa378-ca1c-788d-ba7c-143a30d44885" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_ReportableSegmentMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7c31-9a33-10cde6f253ce" xlink:to="loc_bned_ReportableSegmentMember_019fa378-ca1c-788d-ba7c-143a30d44885" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019fa378-ca1c-7815-ae96-90392da49948" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_Revenues"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_Revenues_019fa378-ca1c-7815-ae96-90392da49948" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_AdjustedCostOfSales_019fa378-ca1c-7d63-80b4-cdedb821f840" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_AdjustedCostOfSales"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_bned_AdjustedCostOfSales_019fa378-ca1c-7d63-80b4-cdedb821f840" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense_019fa378-ca1c-7838-b021-2a58cb6fd057" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LaborAndRelatedExpense_019fa378-ca1c-7838-b021-2a58cb6fd057" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseExpense_019fa378-ca1c-7c6d-823e-b861c578412e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLeaseExpense"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLeaseExpense_019fa378-ca1c-7c6d-823e-b861c578412e" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DirectOperatingCosts_019fa378-ca1c-75f6-976c-d54b461b0538" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DirectOperatingCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DirectOperatingCosts_019fa378-ca1c-75f6-976c-d54b461b0538" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_IndirectExpenses_019fa378-ca1c-7e63-b59f-e1ee8e42543a" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_IndirectExpenses"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_bned_IndirectExpenses_019fa378-ca1c-7e63-b59f-e1ee8e42543a" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount_019fa378-ca1c-7e13-ab78-324490f38ed3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingOtherItemAmount_019fa378-ca1c-7e13-ab78-324490f38ed3" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019fa378-ca1c-7bd1-8256-479ced9d7f0e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-710a-8bae-aa7a46a4b582" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss_019fa378-ca1c-7bd1-8256-479ced9d7f0e" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/EquityDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#EquityDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/EquityDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCapitalUnitsTable_01a038d9-bd2c-74bd-9e71-4ce20d07c03f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfCapitalUnitsTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCapitalUnitsTable_01a038d9-bd2c-74bd-9e71-4ce20d07c03f" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_01a05aad-be5e-75eb-b0ca-274e96198097" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfCapitalUnitsTable_01a038d9-bd2c-74bd-9e71-4ce20d07c03f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_01a05aad-be5e-75eb-b0ca-274e96198097" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a05aad-be5e-75eb-b0ca-274e96198097_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_01a05aad-be5e-75eb-b0ca-274e96198097" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a05aad-be5e-75eb-b0ca-274e96198097_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a05aad-be5e-77c4-8cbc-b5ee11ed64ba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis_01a05aad-be5e-75eb-b0ca-274e96198097" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a05aad-be5e-77c4-8cbc-b5ee11ed64ba" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_01a05aad-be5e-7121-ba08-5214badac976" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EquityComponentDomain_01a05aad-be5e-77c4-8cbc-b5ee11ed64ba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember_01a05aad-be5e-7121-ba08-5214badac976" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare_01a062e4-f47f-7313-8ec2-51e346fb74e9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DividendsPayableAmountPerShare_01a062e4-f47f-7313-8ec2-51e346fb74e9" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends_01a068f6-f6a5-7de7-8b33-d644f4f4e0df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends_01a068f6-f6a5-7de7-8b33-d644f4f4e0df" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized_01a03899-f3a3-7057-b121-302b1d5f455b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized_01a03899-f3a3-7057-b121-302b1d5f455b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_01a03899-f3a3-7136-8753-7880f35fe600" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_01a03899-f3a3-7136-8753-7880f35fe600" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized_01a03899-f3a3-77e9-bb22-808e18ad87e5" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized_01a03899-f3a3-77e9-bb22-808e18ad87e5" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_01a03899-f3a3-75e3-8642-81fa40abf3df" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare_01a03899-f3a3-75e3-8642-81fa40abf3df" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_01a03899-f3a3-748a-b562-bb75e3e89136" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_srt_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1_01a03899-f3a3-748a-b562-bb75e3e89136" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_01a03899-f3a3-7ca5-b37f-c13cb48d15c9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CapitalUnitLineItems_01a038d9-bd2d-7f39-bed1-4841e8a669ca" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingAuthorizedRepurchaseAmount1_01a03899-f3a3-7ca5-b37f-c13cb48d15c9" xlink:type="arc" order="7"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtScheduleofDebtDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#DebtScheduleofDebtDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtScheduleofDebtDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7c52-9085-cdce8bf1b745" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-7ee3-af6c-e70e345eb747" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7c52-9085-cdce8bf1b745" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-7ee3-af6c-e70e345eb747" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019fa378-ca1c-7a57-bcf7-94f34aa4f933" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-7ee3-af6c-e70e345eb747" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019fa378-ca1c-7a57-bcf7-94f34aa4f933" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7a57-bcf7-94f34aa4f933_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019fa378-ca1c-7a57-bcf7-94f34aa4f933" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7a57-bcf7-94f34aa4f933_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7833-a94e-367a58ce91eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019fa378-ca1c-7a57-bcf7-94f34aa4f933" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7833-a94e-367a58ce91eb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_019fa378-ca1c-75c7-bbe2-0ce254235071" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_NewCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7833-a94e-367a58ce91eb" xlink:to="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_019fa378-ca1c-75c7-bbe2-0ce254235071" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermLineOfCredit_019fa378-ca1c-7fff-b084-ebe5a1136738" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermLineOfCredit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7c52-9085-cdce8bf1b745" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermLineOfCredit_019fa378-ca1c-7fff-b084-ebe5a1136738" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount_019fa378-ca1c-7a29-888d-0942ad923a14" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7c52-9085-cdce8bf1b745" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount_019fa378-ca1c-7a29-888d-0942ad923a14" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmountAbstract_019fa378-ca1c-71f2-a34b-804d84b4340a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmountAbstract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7c52-9085-cdce8bf1b745" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmountAbstract_019fa378-ca1c-71f2-a34b-804d84b4340a" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019fa378-ca1c-7b0a-9a27-9feb07c3471e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LongTermDebt"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmountAbstract_019fa378-ca1c-71f2-a34b-804d84b4340a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LongTermDebt_019fa378-ca1c-7b0a-9a27-9feb07c3471e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#DebtNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_01a038b2-c9d0-7dd4-a5a2-97404166244b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_01a038b2-c9d0-7dd4-a5a2-97404166244b" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_01a038b2-c9d0-7f5f-a5b8-121d0db629eb" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_01a038b2-c9d0-7dd4-a5a2-97404166244b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_01a038b2-c9d0-7f5f-a5b8-121d0db629eb" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a038b2-c9d0-7f5f-a5b8-121d0db629eb_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_01a038b2-c9d0-7f5f-a5b8-121d0db629eb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a038b2-c9d0-7f5f-a5b8-121d0db629eb_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a038b2-c9d0-7a52-9110-651eb1da74ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_01a038b2-c9d0-7f5f-a5b8-121d0db629eb" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a038b2-c9d0-7a52-9110-651eb1da74ad" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_01a038b2-c9d0-7403-b3f6-0e01229c9046" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_NewCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_01a038b2-c9d0-7a52-9110-651eb1da74ad" xlink:to="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_01a038b2-c9d0-7403-b3f6-0e01229c9046" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_01a05576-960e-71d1-953f-eed5b897e85c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_01a038b2-c9d0-7dd4-a5a2-97404166244b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_01a05576-960e-71d1-953f-eed5b897e85c" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a05576-960e-71d1-953f-eed5b897e85c_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_01a05576-960e-71d1-953f-eed5b897e85c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a05576-960e-71d1-953f-eed5b897e85c_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a05576-960e-737b-8c26-b1adb04fafce" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_01a05576-960e-71d1-953f-eed5b897e85c" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a05576-960e-737b-8c26-b1adb04fafce" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_RestatedABLFacilityMember_01a05576-960e-74f2-8935-adcdc1365d60" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_RestatedABLFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_01a05576-960e-737b-8c26-b1adb04fafce" xlink:to="loc_bned_RestatedABLFacilityMember_01a05576-960e-74f2-8935-adcdc1365d60" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_01a05576-960e-717a-9f13-200ffa4e5b9d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTable_01a038b2-c9d0-7dd4-a5a2-97404166244b" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_01a05576-960e-717a-9f13-200ffa4e5b9d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a05576-960e-717a-9f13-200ffa4e5b9d_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_01a05576-960e-717a-9f13-200ffa4e5b9d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a05576-960e-717a-9f13-200ffa4e5b9d_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a05576-960e-746c-836c-876e025c6c6d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_VariableRateDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateAxis_01a05576-960e-717a-9f13-200ffa4e5b9d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a05576-960e-746c-836c-876e025c6c6d" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_SOFRFloorMember_01a05576-960e-712c-aed7-2aa87e7c856f" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_SOFRFloorMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a05576-960e-746c-836c-876e025c6c6d" xlink:to="loc_bned_SOFRFloorMember_01a05576-960e-712c-aed7-2aa87e7c856f" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember_01a05576-960e-7b0f-8e1a-2be73ea44608" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a05576-960e-746c-836c-876e025c6c6d" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrMember_01a05576-960e-7b0f-8e1a-2be73ea44608" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_AlternateBaseRateFloorMember_01a05576-960e-7f83-ad45-6acdac4f0b23" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_AlternateBaseRateFloorMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a05576-960e-746c-836c-876e025c6c6d" xlink:to="loc_bned_AlternateBaseRateFloorMember_01a05576-960e-7f83-ad45-6acdac4f0b23" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_AlternateBaseRateMember_01a05576-960e-731a-adf1-0ec8e941ca43" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_AlternateBaseRateMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_VariableRateDomain_01a05576-960e-746c-836c-876e025c6c6d" xlink:to="loc_bned_AlternateBaseRateMember_01a05576-960e-731a-adf1-0ec8e941ca43" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantWaiverOptionalExtensionPeriod_01a038b2-c9d0-724e-ac64-8cd0d2a1cee0" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantWaiverOptionalExtensionPeriod"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:to="loc_bned_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantWaiverOptionalExtensionPeriod_01a038b2-c9d0-724e-ac64-8cd0d2a1cee0" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage_01a038b2-c9d0-75d8-8d56-aea1078044b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage_01a038b2-c9d0-75d8-8d56-aea1078044b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_DebtInstrumentCovenantMinimumExcessAvailabilityAmount_01a038b2-c9d0-7619-972f-fdab26e4354f" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_DebtInstrumentCovenantMinimumExcessAvailabilityAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:to="loc_bned_DebtInstrumentCovenantMinimumExcessAvailabilityAmount_01a038b2-c9d0-7619-972f-fdab26e4354f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_01a05576-960e-7c0e-9c6f-c75ead25e54d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity_01a05576-960e-7c0e-9c6f-c75ead25e54d" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_01a05576-960e-7e25-a3c9-efce1f60cae8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1_01a05576-960e-7e25-a3c9-efce1f60cae8" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateConditionalReduction_01a05576-960e-785a-b689-afd67eb95d60" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateConditionalReduction"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:to="loc_bned_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRateConditionalReduction_01a05576-960e-785a-b689-afd67eb95d60" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_ConsolidatedFixedChargeCoverageRatio_01a05576-960e-749c-b6cf-b32e05028350" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_ConsolidatedFixedChargeCoverageRatio"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems_01a038b2-c9d0-7aaa-b637-65a386080e13" xlink:to="loc_bned_ConsolidatedFixedChargeCoverageRatio_01a05576-960e-749c-b6cf-b32e05028350" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtScheduleofDebtIssuanceCostsDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#DebtScheduleofDebtIssuanceCostsDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtScheduleofDebtIssuanceCostsDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7f14-b91b-c88d8a280109" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-793a-9d3d-8ab4879c2b22" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7f14-b91b-c88d8a280109" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-793a-9d3d-8ab4879c2b22" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-793a-9d3d-8ab4879c2b22" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7a5b-9341-98fb26355928" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7a5b-9341-98fb26355928" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_019fa378-ca1c-7ca7-812d-aed062ae3fdf" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_NewCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7a5b-9341-98fb26355928" xlink:to="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_019fa378-ca1c-7ca7-812d-aed062ae3fdf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis_01a045fa-5a17-78fa-8d96-117d599c0986" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-793a-9d3d-8ab4879c2b22" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementOfFinancialPositionLocationBalanceAxis_01a045fa-5a17-78fa-8d96-117d599c0986" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet_019fa378-ca1c-7f3f-bb61-581ef22c045e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7f14-b91b-c88d8a280109" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet_019fa378-ca1c-7f3f-bb61-581ef22c045e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtScheduleofDebtIssuanceCostsDetails_1" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#DebtScheduleofDebtIssuanceCostsDetails_1"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtScheduleofDebtIssuanceCostsDetails_1" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7f14-b91b-c88d8a280109" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-793a-9d3d-8ab4879c2b22" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7f14-b91b-c88d8a280109" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-793a-9d3d-8ab4879c2b22" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-793a-9d3d-8ab4879c2b22" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7a5b-9341-98fb26355928" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis_019fa378-ca1c-759c-82b5-db1028400b95" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7a5b-9341-98fb26355928" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_019fa378-ca1c-7ca7-812d-aed062ae3fdf" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_NewCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_DebtInstrumentNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7a5b-9341-98fb26355928" xlink:to="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_019fa378-ca1c-7ca7-812d-aed062ae3fdf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet_019fa378-ca1c-7f3f-bb61-581ef22c045e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7f14-b91b-c88d8a280109" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet_019fa378-ca1c-7f3f-bb61-581ef22c045e" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtScheduleofInterestExpenseDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#DebtScheduleofInterestExpenseDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/DebtScheduleofInterestExpenseDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7777-843c-70b518a14a1f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-7f3c-b98b-18a9a9a20575" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7777-843c-70b518a14a1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-7f3c-b98b-18a9a9a20575" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019fa378-ca1c-77a9-828c-2573237a7fde" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityTable_019fa378-ca1c-7f3c-b98b-18a9a9a20575" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019fa378-ca1c-77a9-828c-2573237a7fde" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-77a9-828c-2573237a7fde_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019fa378-ca1c-77a9-828c-2573237a7fde" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-77a9-828c-2573237a7fde_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7936-9f15-1b78b3ca687e" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis_019fa378-ca1c-77a9-828c-2573237a7fde" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7936-9f15-1b78b3ca687e" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_019fa378-ca1c-7fd0-993a-e48718784a15" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_NewCreditFacilityMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_CreditFacilityDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7936-9f15-1b78b3ca687e" xlink:to="loc_bned_NewCreditFacilityMember_019fa378-ca1c-7fd0-993a-e48718784a15" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet_019fa378-ca1c-7a25-b488-1bb5bf4e7cb1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7777-843c-70b518a14a1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet_019fa378-ca1c-7a25-b488-1bb5bf4e7cb1" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurred_019fa378-ca1c-712c-b423-e53b680db721" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurred"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7777-843c-70b518a14a1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestCostsIncurred_019fa378-ca1c-712c-b423-e53b680db721" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts_019fa378-ca1c-7326-a4f1-29009ef8c29b" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7777-843c-70b518a14a1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts_019fa378-ca1c-7326-a4f1-29009ef8c29b" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome_019fa378-ca1c-7313-ab3e-c836eaf9976a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7777-843c-70b518a14a1f" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_InterestAndOtherIncome_019fa378-ca1c-7313-ab3e-c836eaf9976a" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/LeasesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#LeasesNarrativeDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/LeasesNarrativeDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7dd0-9f91-ed527ddba9f4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_019fa378-ca1c-7c60-8613-d1be034922af" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7dd0-9f91-ed527ddba9f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_019fa378-ca1c-7c60-8613-d1be034922af" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019fa378-ca1c-79da-8fb9-bc992b672f26" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionTable_019fa378-ca1c-7c60-8613-d1be034922af" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019fa378-ca1c-79da-8fb9-bc992b672f26" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019fa378-ca1c-79da-8fb9-bc992b672f26_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019fa378-ca1c-79da-8fb9-bc992b672f26" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019fa378-ca1c-79da-8fb9-bc992b672f26_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_RangeMember_019fa378-ca1c-7293-a214-7c41aa4811b9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_RangeMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeAxis_019fa378-ca1c-79da-8fb9-bc992b672f26" xlink:to="loc_srt_RangeMember_019fa378-ca1c-7293-a214-7c41aa4811b9" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019fa378-ca1c-7571-9dee-b5bcc9f733ad" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MinimumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019fa378-ca1c-7293-a214-7c41aa4811b9" xlink:to="loc_srt_MinimumMember_019fa378-ca1c-7571-9dee-b5bcc9f733ad" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019fa378-ca1c-7a6a-8dd0-d116fd06d3a2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/srt/2026/elts/srt-2026.xsd#srt_MaximumMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_srt_RangeMember_019fa378-ca1c-7293-a214-7c41aa4811b9" xlink:to="loc_srt_MaximumMember_019fa378-ca1c-7a6a-8dd0-d116fd06d3a2" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_LesseeFinanceLeaseNumberOfLeases_01a038bb-d136-7321-b96a-f578f48a2036" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_LesseeFinanceLeaseNumberOfLeases"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7dd0-9f91-ed527ddba9f4" xlink:to="loc_bned_LesseeFinanceLeaseNumberOfLeases_01a038bb-d136-7321-b96a-f578f48a2036" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract_019fa378-ca1c-7acd-8346-6ca10954cc76" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_LesseeLeaseDescriptionLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7dd0-9f91-ed527ddba9f4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseTermOfContract_019fa378-ca1c-7acd-8346-6ca10954cc76" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/LongTermIncentivePlanCompensationExpenseScheduleofLongTermIncentiveCompensationExpenseDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#LongTermIncentivePlanCompensationExpenseScheduleofLongTermIncentiveCompensationExpenseDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/LongTermIncentivePlanCompensationExpenseScheduleofLongTermIncentiveCompensationExpenseDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7af6-81e5-aec598af1cf3" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019fa378-ca1c-75f5-bae0-3808a3655407" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7af6-81e5-aec598af1cf3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019fa378-ca1c-75f5-bae0-3808a3655407" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019fa378-ca1c-7afe-b016-e71f05166259" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ScheduleOfShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardTable_019fa378-ca1c-75f5-bae0-3808a3655407" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019fa378-ca1c-7afe-b016-e71f05166259" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7afe-b016-e71f05166259_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019fa378-ca1c-7afe-b016-e71f05166259" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7afe-b016-e71f05166259_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7eb1-b02a-ba33c81f7f3a" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis_019fa378-ca1c-7afe-b016-e71f05166259" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7eb1-b02a-ba33c81f7f3a" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_019fa378-ca1c-72d9-911c-c770ba99bbbf" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7eb1-b02a-ba33c81f7f3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember_019fa378-ca1c-72d9-911c-c770ba99bbbf" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019fa378-ca1c-74f8-811f-c2589ba76634" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7eb1-b02a-ba33c81f7f3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember_019fa378-ca1c-74f8-811f-c2589ba76634" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019fa378-ca1c-7a29-aaa3-7c781df2600f" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7eb1-b02a-ba33c81f7f3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember_019fa378-ca1c-7a29-aaa3-7c781df2600f" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_019fa378-ca1c-7607-afa1-43863f2ca8e7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardTypeAndPlanNameDomain_019fa378-ca1c-7eb1-b02a-ba33c81f7f3a" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember_019fa378-ca1c-7607-afa1-43863f2ca8e7" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019fa378-ca1c-7bae-9af9-1e76ceb8cbed" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7af6-81e5-aec598af1cf3" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation_019fa378-ca1c-7bae-9af9-1e76ceb8cbed" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_LongTermIncentivePlanCompensation_019fa378-ca1c-794c-a127-e0fe5ae5efe5" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_LongTermIncentivePlanCompensation"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems_019fa378-ca1c-7af6-81e5-aec598af1cf3" xlink:to="loc_bned_LongTermIncentivePlanCompensation_019fa378-ca1c-794c-a127-e0fe5ae5efe5" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.bned.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#IncomeTaxesDetails"/>
  <link:definitionLink xlink:role="http://www.bned.com/role/IncomeTaxesDetails" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTable_01a045ff-2c4a-74d3-a974-bc868f198f92" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTable"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/all" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTable_01a045ff-2c4a-74d3-a974-bc868f198f92" xlink:type="arc" order="1" xbrldt:closed="true" xbrldt:contextElement="segment"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis_01a045ff-2c4a-7e79-8e1b-da8b501505b1" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/hypercube-dimension" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTable_01a045ff-2c4a-74d3-a974-bc868f198f92" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis_01a045ff-2c4a-7e79-8e1b-da8b501505b1" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_01a045ff-2c4a-7e79-8e1b-da8b501505b1_default" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-default" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis_01a045ff-2c4a-7e79-8e1b-da8b501505b1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_01a045ff-2c4a-7e79-8e1b-da8b501505b1_default" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_01a045ff-2c4a-7922-a8fd-f49abe102ef4" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/dimension-domain" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis_01a045ff-2c4a-7e79-8e1b-da8b501505b1" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_01a045ff-2c4a-7922-a8fd-f49abe102ef4" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember_01a045ff-2c4a-7613-83d6-3d98becbdc07" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityDomain_01a045ff-2c4a-7922-a8fd-f49abe102ef4" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember_01a045ff-2c4a-7613-83d6-3d98becbdc07" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_019fa378-ca1c-747b-84e2-c5a1be95d6ca" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit_019fa378-ca1c-747b-84e2-c5a1be95d6ca" xlink:type="arc" order="0"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_019fa378-ca1c-729e-905c-f37be6561b3c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest_019fa378-ca1c-729e-905c-f37be6561b3c" xlink:type="arc" order="1"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations_019fa378-ca1c-7f18-b839-0af31fd795cd" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations_019fa378-ca1c-7f18-b839-0af31fd795cd" xlink:type="arc" order="2"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards_019fa378-ca1c-7c86-a58e-e83ef21bb871" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards_019fa378-ca1c-7c86-a58e-e83ef21bb871" xlink:type="arc" order="3"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_DisallowedInterestExpenseCarryforward_019fa378-ca1c-7c2d-a24c-c3096e932217" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_DisallowedInterestExpenseCarryforward"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:to="loc_bned_DisallowedInterestExpenseCarryforward_019fa378-ca1c-7c2d-a24c-c3096e932217" xlink:type="arc" order="4"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount_019fa378-ca1c-7eca-a0d4-4ac143bbc9a9" xlink:href="https://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2026/elts/us-gaap-2026.xsd#us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAmount_019fa378-ca1c-7eca-a0d4-4ac143bbc9a9" xlink:type="arc" order="5"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_bned_OperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCreditsPotentiallyAvailableInFuture_019fa378-ca1c-73c2-ab23-90e7b7400171" xlink:href="bned-20260801.xsd#bned_OperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCreditsPotentiallyAvailableInFuture"/>
    <link:definitionArc xlink:arcrole="http://xbrl.org/int/dim/arcrole/domain-member" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationLineItems_01a045ff-2c4a-7e40-9b5d-d5e396097cba" xlink:to="loc_bned_OperatingLossCarryforwardsAndCreditsPotentiallyAvailableInFuture_019fa378-ca1c-73c2-ab23-90e7b7400171" xlink:type="arc" order="6"/>
  </link:definitionLink>
</link:linkbase>
