barrier
noun
bar·ri·er
| \ ˈber-ē-ər
, ˈba-rē-\
, ˈba-rē-\
Definition of barrier
1a
: something material that blocks or is intended to block passage
highway barriers a barrier contraceptive
b
: a natural formation or structure that prevents or hinders movement or action
geographic barriers to species dissemination barrier beaches drugs that cross the placental barrier
2
barriers
or Barriers plural
: a medieval war game in which combatants fight on foot with a fence or railing between them
3
: something immaterial that impedes or separates : obstacle
behavioral barriers trade barriers
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Examples of barrier in a Sentence
Concrete barriers surround the race track to protect spectators.
The tree's roots serve as a barrier against soil erosion.
The mountain range forms a natural barrier between the two countries.
Both leaders are in favor of removing trade barriers.
Cultural barriers have made it hard for women to enter many professions.
He argues that regulations should not be viewed as barriers to progress.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Trump has so far succeeded in building replacement barriers within the 654 miles of fencing built during the Obama and Bush administrations. — Washington Post, "Military base cuts affect schools, target ranges, more," 5 Sep. 2019 Trump has so far succeeded in building replacement barriers within the 654 miles of fencing built during the Obama and Bush administrations. — Andrew Taylor, BostonGlobe.com, "Military base cuts affect schools, target ranges, more," 4 Sep. 2019 Cleveland first hit the scene in the 1960’s breaking barriers for women of color in an industry that had long ignored us. — Nandi Howard, Essence, "ESSENCE Best In Black Fashion Awards: Our 2019 Icon Award Honoree Is Pat Cleveland," 3 Sep. 2019 Every part of it (is about using the music to end stigma, break down barriers, say something about injustice). — Jessi Roti, chicagotribune.com, "Angel Davanport is back on her own terms: ‘Rap is such a popular sport. Everybody wants to be famous. I want to leave a legacy with my art’," 29 Aug. 2019 Your skin’s barrier relies on essential fatty acids to function properly. — A.a. Newton, SELF, "Do You Really Need to Put Fatty Acids on Your Face?," 28 Aug. 2019 To top it all off, its gel moisturizer locks everything with its dual-hydration technology, which aids in both replenishing the skin and protecting its barrier. — Kaleigh Fasanella, Allure, "My Poor, Unfortunate Soul Needs This Little Mermaid Skin-Care Collection," 8 Aug. 2019 Anybody’s home or apartment can play host to an event, breaking down barriers to entry and allowing the company to scale without having to purchase more real estate. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "Community-focused app wants homes to double as third places," 2 Aug. 2019 The fragrance- and dye-free face wash is formulated with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to help keep your skin naturally moisturized, and won’t disrupt your skin barrier. — Christina Butan, PEOPLE.com, "The Best Beauty Buys on Amazon This Month, Including Drew Barrymore’s Favorite Sunscreen," 1 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'barrier.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for barrier
barrier
noun
English Language Learners Definition of barrier
: something (such as a fence or natural obstacle) that prevents or blocks movement from one place to another
: a law, rule, problem, etc., that makes something difficult or impossible
: something that makes it difficult for people to understand each other
See the full definition for barrier in the English Language Learners Dictionary
barrier
noun
bar·ri·er
| \ ˈber-ē-ər
\
\
Kids Definition of barrier
1
: something (as a fence) that blocks the way
2
: something that keeps apart or makes progress difficult
a language barrier
barrier
noun
bar·ri·er
| \ ˈbar-ē-ər
\
\
Medical Definition of barrier
1a
: a material object or set of objects that separates, demarcates, or serves as a barricade — see blood-brain barrier, placental barrier
b
: a contraceptive device (such as a condom or cervical cap) that prevents sperm from entering the uterus
—often used before another noun barrier contraception
2
: a factor that tends to restrict the free movement, mingling, or interbreeding of individuals or populations
behavioral and geographic barriers to hybridization
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