barrier

[bar-ee-er]

noun

1. anything built or serving to bar passage, as a railing, fence, or the like.

   People may pass through the barrier only when their train is announced.

   Synonyms: impediment, hindrance, obstruction, wall, palisade

2. any natural bar or obstacle.

   a mountain barrier.

   Synonyms: impediment, hindrance, obstruction

3. anything that restrains or obstructs progress, access, etc..

   a trade barrier.

   Synonyms: impediment, hindrance, obstruction

4. a limit or boundary of any kind.

   the barriers of caste.

5. Physical Geography.,  an Antarctic ice shelf or ice front.

6. barrier beach.

7. History/Historical.,  barriers, the palisade or railing surrounding the ground where tourneys and jousts were carried on.

8. Archaic.,  a fortress or stockade.

barrier

/ ˈbærɪə /

noun

1. anything serving to obstruct passage or to maintain separation, such as a fence or gate

2. anything that prevents or obstructs passage, access, or progress

   a barrier of distrust

3. anything that separates or hinders union

   a language barrier

4. 1. an exposed offshore sand bar separated from the shore by a lagoon

   2. ( as modifier )

      a barrier beach

5. (sometimes capital) that part of the Antarctic icecap extending over the sea

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrier¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French barriere ( barre bar ¹ + -iere, from Latin -āria -ary ); replacing Middle English barrere, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin barrera

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrier¹

C14: from Old French barriere , from barre _bar ¹

Synonym Study

See bar ¹.

Example Sentences

Moments later, security formed a human barrier around the entrance, and Cardi stepped out of the store with a megaphone.

From Los Angeles Times

"When you've got that feeling inside you that you're meant to do something special, you have to have that dedication and drive to overcome barriers," she said.

From BBC

They have said barring the acceptance of mail ballots received after election day would also create barriers for voters, especially in large state such as California that need time to process large volumes of ballots.

From Los Angeles Times

Kicking booze meant spending time with what she calls her “shadow self,” facing down her fears and anxieties without a protective barrier.

From Los Angeles Times

At other times, progress is impeded by internal barriers: “Waiting for That Day” interpolates the Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and features the lyric, “Something in me needs this pain.”

From Salon

Related Words

• barricade 
• blockade 
• boundary 
• fence 
• hurdle 
• impediment 
• limit 
• obstacle 
• railing 
• roadblock 
• wall