barrier

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Middle French barriere (barre bar¹ + -iere, from Latin -āria -ary); replacing Middle English barrere, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin barrera

synonym study for barrier

1-3. See bar¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use barrier in a sentence

From 2006 to 2012, a series of storms broke through the dune barriers.
Soggy coastal soils? Here’s why ecologists love them|Alison Pearce Stevens|September 17, 2020|Science News For Students
He’s tearing down barriers and making sure we have a safe, effective vaccine in record time.
Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine; Biden says Americans shouldn’t trust Trump|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
The purpose would be to first build an immunity barrier among special groups in the population.
China has quietly vaccinated more than 100,000 people for Covid-19 before completing safety trials|Lili Pike|September 11, 2020|Vox
Military airplanes that can accelerate through the sound barrier are relatively common.
Air Force transport jets for VIPs could have a supersonic future|Rob Verger|September 10, 2020|Popular-Science

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on Wednesday reiterated his optimistic view that the company’s experimental coronavirus vaccine is a strong contender and may potentially cross key barriers on the way to the public by the fall.
Pfizer’s CEO is still hopeful for COVID vaccine progress by October—and says a sense of purpose is fueling him|Sy Mukherjee|September 10, 2020|Fortune
All of these increased barriers then have a snowball effect.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating|Ellie Schaack|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Foxx says that he thinks this generation has the capacity to keep pushing through racial barriers.
Jamie Foxx: Get Over the Black ‘Annie’|Stereo Williams|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Only one of the crowd-control barriers was deployed, to close off a sidewalk as the royals arrived.
Synagogue Slay: When Cops Have to Kill|Michael Daly|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
More fireworks followed the first, and the metal barriers rattled.
Mexican Protesters Look to Start a New Revolution|Jason McGahan|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet his ubiquity symbolizes the dissolving of more barriers between gay and straight.
How Straight World Stole ‘Gay’: The Last Gasp of the ‘Lumbersexual’|Tim Teeman|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The volcanic eruptions of the mountains on the west broke down its barriers, and let its waters flow.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
Thus age and avarice can always over-leap barriers which, to the young and romantic, are insurmountable.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
Ever and always the result of religion has been to raise unnatural barriers, to create sin.
The Everlasting Arms|Joseph Hocking
The exterior appearance of the towers and barriers, called together the oppidum, is shown in Fig. 140.
The Private Life of the Romans|Harold Whetstone Johnston
Marian was altogether obvious; whereas Mrs. Owen felt the barriers of reserve in Sylvia.
A Hoosier Chronicle|Meredith Nicholson

British Dictionary definitions for barrier

barrier

/ (ˈbærɪə) /

noun

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

anything that prevents or obstructs passage, access, or progressa barrier of distrust

anything that separates or hinders uniona 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

Word Origin for barrier

C14: from Old French barriere, from barre bar 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for barrier

barrier

[ băr′ē-ər ]

A boundary or limit.

An obstacle or impediment.

Something that separates or holds apart.

Something immaterial that obstructs or impedes behavior.

A physical or biological factor that limits the migration, interbreeding, or free movement of individuals or populations.

barrier

OTHER WORDS FOR barrier

Origin of barrier

synonym study for barrier

Words related to barrier

How to use barrier in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for barrier

Word Origin for barrier

Medical definitions for barrier