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

“I tend not to get too political, but it seems just rather juxtaposed to me that an anti-regulation administration is using regulation in this way. They’re supposed to be removing barriers to healthcare.”

From Los Angeles Times

“It allowed me to create a barrier between her and the world to which she has been born. She has to reinvent herself.”

From Los Angeles Times

The group soon encountered a storekeeper who managed to bridge the language barrier.

From Los Angeles Times

But I never had that barrier of 'girls can't play' or 'it's not girls' football' because my family and my brother were some of the best examples of it.

From BBC

"The main barrier to operating our eHGV fleet more nationally is infrastructure," says Welch's managing director Chris Welch, the great grandson of the founder.

From BBC

Related Words

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