barrier

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noun bar·ri·er \ ˈber-ē-ər , ˈba-rē- \

Definition of barrier

1 a :something material that blocks or is intended to block passage

highway barriers

a barrier contraceptive

b :a natural formation or structure that prevents or hinders movement or action

geographic barriers to species dissemination

barrier beaches

drugs that cross the placental barrier

2 barriers or Barriers plural :a medieval war game in which combatants fight on foot with a fence or railing between them

3 :something immaterial that impedes or separates :obstacle

behavioral barriers

trade barriers

See barrier defined for English-language learners

See barrier defined for kids

Examples of barrier in a Sentence

Concrete barriers surround the race track to protect spectators.
The tree's roots serve as a barrier against soil erosion.
The mountain range forms a natural barrier between the two countries.
Both leaders are in favor of removing trade barriers.
Cultural barriers have made it hard for women to enter many professions.
He argues that regulations should not be viewed as barriers to progress.

Recent Examples of barrier from the Web

BUY NOW Advanced C Radiance Cream, LANCER, $85, Moisturizing seals in all the good stuff (like the ingredients in your previous steps) and creates a barrier against all the bad stuff (like pollution), says Dr. Lancer.

— lauren balsamo, Cosmopolitan, "Your Guide to Perfect Skin, Straight From the Experts," 22 Aug. 2017
Thousands of additional officers will be on patrol and will police party areas outside the barriers.

— Washington Post, "Hours for NYC’s Caribbean festival shifted to fight violence," 21 Aug. 2017
Briggs said when the intersection work is done, the number of barrels and barriers will decline by about 50 percent.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Beards Hill Road work at Route 22 in Aberdeen could be done within two weeks," 16 Aug. 2017
Call it Northism: the need to erect a kind of moral and mental barrier at the Mason Dixon Line.

— kyle smith, National Review, "Destroying Symbols: Where Does It End?," 15 Aug. 2017
Inside your home, dust infested areas with boric acid mixed with an equal amount of flour, cornmeal or sugar (again, put up temporary barriers to keep pets and small children from touching the powder).

— Good Housekeeping, "How to Get Rid of Insects and Pests," 6 Aug. 2017
And there are substantial barriers to private insurers entering the market.

— michelle cottle, The Atlantic, "Can Congress Bring the National Flood Insurance Program Above Water?," 5 Aug. 2017
Breaking Barriers: An Exploration of Autism Art, Saturday.

— jennifer jhon, South Florida Parenting, "Best fun for kids this weekend: YMCA water days, Florida Supercon," 26 July 2017
This forces Turkey to apply common external tariffs fixed by the EU, but that brings the advantage that there are no barriers or rules-of-origin checks on exports to the EU.

— The Economist, "The six flavours of Brexit," 22 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barrier.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of barrier

Middle English barrere, from Anglo-French, from barre bar

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First Known Use: 14th century

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barrier Synonyms

Synonyms

barricade, fence, hedge, wall

Related Words

bar, pale, paling; block, chain, clog, crimp, deterrent, drag, embarrassment, encumbrance, handicap, hindrance, hurdle, impediment, inhibition, interference, let, obstacle, obstruction, roadblock, stop, stumbling block, trammel; fetter, hobble, manacle, shackle (s); constraint, curb, restraint, snag; buffer, bulwark, bumper, cushion, dam, fender, pad, rampart

Near Antonyms

door, doorway, entrance, entranceway, entry, entryway, gate, portal; break, gap, pass

BARRIER Defined for English Language Learners

barrier

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noun

Definition of barrier for English Language Learners

: something (such as a fence or natural obstacle) that prevents or blocks movement from one place to another
: a law, rule, problem, etc., that makes something difficult or impossible
: something that makes it difficult for people to understand each other

BARRIER Defined for Kids

barrier

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noun bar·ri·er \ ˈber-ē-ər \

Definition of barrier for Students

1 :something (as a fence) that blocks the way

2 :something that keeps apart or makes progress difficult

a language barrier

Medical Dictionary

barrier

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noun bar·ri·er \ ˈbar-ē-ər \

medical Definition of barrier

1 a :a material object or set of objects that separates, demarcates, or serves as a barricade — see blood-brain barrier, placental barrier

b :a contraceptive device (such as a condom or cervical cap) that prevents sperm from entering the uterus —often used before another noun

barrier contraception

2 :a factor that tends to restrict the free movement, mingling, or interbreeding of individuals or populations

behavioral and geographic barriers to hybridization

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See words that rhyme with barrier Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for barrier Spanish Central: Translation of barrier Nglish: Translation of barrier for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of barrier for Arabic speakers

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BARRIER Defined for English Language Learners

barrier

Definition of barrier for English Language Learners

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barrier

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