barrier reef

Definition of barrier reefnext

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of barrier reef Roughly 15 minutes from San Pedro, the shallow patch-reef complex sits inside the main barrier reef. Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 Just offshore lies the Mesoamerican Reef, the largest barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world, an extremely vulnerable ecosystem. Natalie Leticia Gallón, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026 Grace Bay consistently ranks among the world’s most beautiful beaches, partly because a barrier reef a mile offshore keeps the waters calm and free of swells. Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for barrier reef
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barrier reef
coral reef
Noun
  • On the screen were six images, each representing a different aspect of the kingdom’s landscape including a rich coral reef, an arid desert and a dense city skyline.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The first episode will focus on coral reef restoration company Coral Vita, followed by former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s Chicago CRED, which aims to prevent gun violence.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barrier reef.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barrier%20reef. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on barrier reef

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster