barrier island
noun
: a long broad sandy island lying parallel to a shore that is built up by the action of waves, currents, and winds and that protects the shore from the effects of the ocean
Examples of barrier island in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Five barrier islands make up the Brunswick Islands, which stretch 45 miles across the southern tip of North Carolina.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Lido is a long, narrow barrier island stretching seven miles between the lagoon and the Adriatic.
—Erica Firpo, AFAR Media, 8 Sep. 2025
That is thanks to the barrier island's relatively low home prices (the average is $641,751), very low crime rate, low unemployment rate, and average commute coming in at just over 21 minutes.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
The National Hurricane Center has warned that roads in the low-lying barrier islands will become impassable, with powerful waves of 15 to 20 feet crashing ashore.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barrier island
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
Lido is a long, narrow barrier island stretching seven miles between the lagoon and the Adriatic.
—Erica Firpo, AFAR Media, 8 Sep. 2025
That is thanks to the barrier island's relatively low home prices (the average is $641,751), very low crime rate, low unemployment rate, and average commute coming in at just over 21 minutes.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
The National Hurricane Center has warned that roads in the low-lying barrier islands will become impassable, with powerful waves of 15 to 20 feet crashing ashore.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barrier island
Cite this Entry
“Barrier island.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barrier%20island. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share