barrier
Americannoun
-
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
-
any natural bar or obstacle.
a mountain barrier.
- Synonyms:
- impediment, hindrance, obstruction
-
anything that restrains or obstructs progress, access, etc..
a trade barrier.
- Synonyms:
- impediment, hindrance, obstruction
-
a limit or boundary of any kind.
the barriers of caste.
-
Physical Geography. an Antarctic ice shelf or ice front.
-
History/Historical. barriers, the palisade or railing surrounding the ground where tourneys and jousts were carried on.
-
Archaic. a fortress or stockade.
noun
-
anything serving to obstruct passage or to maintain separation, such as a fence or gate
-
anything that prevents or obstructs passage, access, or progress
a barrier of distrust
-
anything that separates or hinders union
a language barrier
-
-
an exposed offshore sand bar separated from the shore by a lagoon
-
( as modifier )
a barrier beach
-
-
(sometimes capital) that part of the Antarctic icecap extending over the sea
Related Words
See bar 1.
Etymology
Origin of barrier
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Many Americans now see the cost of college as a major barrier to enrolling, especially if they also need to work to support themselves while attending school.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
It used to be known that the Bruins’ academic requirements were a significant barrier to many high school players.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026
In addition, landfast ice acts as a natural barrier, reducing the impact of waves on the shoreline and allowing river water to spread farther offshore.
From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026
“These models should continue to rapidly advance, but we think the ‘AI slop’ label remains a high barrier for many consumers, at least beyond the initial novelty and creation of memes.”
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
Today both sides are aware of the barrier between them and the need to level it.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
