barrier reef
noun
: a coral reef roughly parallel to a shore and separated from it usually by a lagoon
Examples of barrier reef in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Red Sea, one of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s prime tourism destinations on the west coast of the country, is hugged by the world's fourth-largest barrier reef system and boasts an archipelago of over 90 idyllic islands.
—
Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
Thriving for more than five millennia, the barrier reef is a haven for captivating ecosystems, including over 165 species of reef fish found nowhere else on Earth, as well as dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays, and the majestic Napoleon wrasse.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
The key to a great surfing site: the reef pass
On volcanic islands, barrier reefs are separated from land by lagoons.
—Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 29 July 2024
That can mean ziplining and canopy climbing at No. 3 Hotel Belmar, or tubing along the Rio Celeste at No. 9 Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel, or diving the second-largest barrier reef at No. 10.
—Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for barrier reef 
Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
Thriving for more than five millennia, the barrier reef is a haven for captivating ecosystems, including over 165 species of reef fish found nowhere else on Earth, as well as dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays, and the majestic Napoleon wrasse.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
The key to a great surfing site: the reef pass
On volcanic islands, barrier reefs are separated from land by lagoons.
—Júlia Ledur, Washington Post, 29 July 2024
That can mean ziplining and canopy climbing at No. 3 Hotel Belmar, or tubing along the Rio Celeste at No. 9 Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel, or diving the second-largest barrier reef at No. 10.
—Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for barrier reef
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barrier reef.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near barrier reef
Cite this Entry
“Barrier reef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barrier%20reef. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share