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language barrier

American

[lang-gwij bar-ee-er] / ˈlæŋ gwɪdʒ ˌbær i ər /

noun

difficulty in communicating due to the lack of a shared language.

International adoption is not easy, especially when there is a language barrier.

Etymology

Origin of language barrier

First recorded in 1885–90

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.

"Cultures are different, not to mention the language barrier," the mayor said, urging "mutual support and consideration".

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

And they faced other challenges, including the language barrier and an unfamiliar legal system.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

Defense lawyers Brian Klein and Axel contended in court filings that Puig, who is from Cuba, was confused because of his language barrier and a dual diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

Historically, some U.S. listeners have struggled to embrace K-pop because of the language barrier, or found the genre’s melodic digressions and stop-start rhythms jarring, as if three songs are crammed into one.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

In class, my teacher, Ms. Wilson, didn't know what to do with me because of the language barrier, and she plunked down some math problems in front of me.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023