barrera
B2formal / informal
Definition
Meaning
A defensive wall or fence that blocks or protects.
Anything that prevents progress, communication, or access; can be physical, social, psychological, or linguistic.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most commonly refers to a physical structure but often used metaphorically. Can imply something that is meant to be overcome or negotiated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The spelling is consistent. 'Barrier' is the standard form in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both. In specific contexts like 'trade barrier', may carry political/economic weight.
Frequency
Comparatively high and similar frequency in both corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
barrier between X and Ybarrier to (doing) somethingbarrier against somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “break the sound barrier”
- “break down barriers”
- “a barrier to entry”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to obstacles preventing market entry, e.g., 'high startup costs are a significant barrier.'
Academic
Used in social sciences for social/economic divides, e.g., 'barriers to educational attainment.'
Everyday
Common for physical objects like crash barriers or metaphors like language barriers.
Technical
In physics/engineering for things like thermal barriers or membrane barriers in biology.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police put up a barrier.
- There is a language barrier.
- A high wall acted as a barrier against the wind.
- Lack of money can be a barrier to education.
- The new policy aims to remove trade barriers between the countries.
- She struggled to overcome the psychological barriers holding her back.
- The treaty succeeded in dismantling long-standing regulatory barriers to foreign investment.
- His deafness was not an insurmountable barrier to a brilliant career in music.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BAR and a BEAR. A BEAR behind a BAR is a BARRIER to your safety.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSTACLES ARE PHYSICAL BARRIERS, PROGRESS IS MOVEMENT FORWARD.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'барьер' where a simpler word like 'fence' or 'wall' is more natural.
- In Russian, 'барьер' can sound more formal/technical; English 'barrier' is common in everyday speech.
- Do not confuse with 'баррикада' (barricade), which implies a hastily built defensive structure.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'barrier of' instead of 'barrier to' (e.g., 'a barrier of success' is wrong).
- Misspelling as 'barrior' or 'barrear'.
- Overusing the metaphorical sense where a simpler word like 'problem' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'barrier' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is almost always countable (e.g., 'several barriers'). The uncountable use is very rare.
A 'barricade' is usually a temporary barrier, often hastily built, especially for defence in a conflict or protest. A 'barrier' is a more general term.
Very rarely and archaically. The standard verb forms are 'bar' or 'block'. In modern English, 'barrier' is almost exclusively a noun.
'To' is most common for metaphorical barriers (a barrier to progress). 'Between' is used for things that separate (a barrier between them). 'Against' for protective barriers (a barrier against disease).