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. barriers, History/Historical. 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

And they’re also a barrier to remembering things properly, in our own way.

From Slate

The Department of Health said it was aware that the availability of community placements was a key barrier to enabling timely discharge from inpatient services.

From BBC

The biggest barrier to the adoption of this strain of fungus is the dearth of places to buy the spores needed to grow it in the U.S.

From Salon

Dautel says that a carriage with a battery fire could still be moved out of the way, even while burning, such was the effectiveness of the fire barrier around the cells.

From BBC

“This place is really breaking the barrier that the Latinos don’t come to the theater,” said Ramirez.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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