barrier
B2Neutral to formal; common in technical, academic, business, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A physical fence, wall, or obstacle that prevents movement or access.
Anything that restricts or prevents progress, communication, understanding, or an outcome, including social, psychological, or abstract constraints.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies something that is difficult to overcome or pass through, whether tangible or intangible. In a figurative sense, it suggests a significant hurdle rather than a minor inconvenience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or spelling. Minor usage preference: 'crash barrier' (UK) vs. 'guardrail' (US). 'Ticket barrier' is common in UK transport contexts (at train stations).
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Often carries a neutral or slightly negative connotation, as barriers are generally things to be overcome or removed.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties, with comparable use in figurative contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] a barrier to + noun/gerund (e.g., a barrier to progress)[create/build/erect] a barrier + between + X and Y[break through/overcome/surmount] a barrierVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break the sound barrier”
- “Crash through the glass ceiling (conceptual, not a direct idiom with 'barrier')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to tariffs, regulations, or market conditions that restrict trade or entry: 'The new tariffs act as a significant barrier to import.'
Academic
Used in social sciences for abstract impediments: 'The study examines socio-economic barriers to higher education.'
Everyday
Commonly refers to physical objects or simple problems: 'They put up a barrier to keep people off the grass.'
Technical
In physics/engineering: 'The material acts as a thermal barrier.' In IT: 'A firewall is a security barrier.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The path was barriered off for safety.
American English
- The construction site was barriered to prevent entry.
adjective
British English
- Barrier cream is used for skin protection.
American English
- They installed a barrier reef system off the coast.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police put a barrier across the road.
- A high wall was a barrier around the old castle.
- The main barrier to learning English is a lack of practice.
- We had to climb over a metal barrier.
- The new regulations could create an unfair barrier to free trade.
- Breaking the sound barrier was a major achievement in aviation.
- Her shyness formed an intangible barrier to forming deep friendships.
- The treaty aimed to dismantle long-standing cultural barriers between the two nations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BAR blocking your way, making you say 'ARI!' in frustration – BAR-RI-ER.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROBLEMS ARE PHYSICAL OBSTRUCTIONS (e.g., 'We hit a barrier in the negotiations'), ABSTRACT CONCEPTS ARE WALLS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation for 'language barrier' as 'языковый барьер' is correct. However, 'преграда' is a good synonym, while 'баррикада' specifically means 'barricade'. Be careful not to confuse 'barrier' with 'fence' (забор) in all contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'barrier of' instead of 'barrier to' (e.g., 'barrier of success' is incorrect; 'barrier to success' is correct). Confusing 'barrier' (general obstacle) with 'barricade' (specifically a hastily-built defensive structure).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'trade barrier' most commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally neutral or negative, as it denotes an obstruction. Context determines the nuance; a 'safety barrier' is positive, while a 'barrier to success' is negative.
They are often synonyms. 'Barrier' can imply a more solid, continuous, or definitive block (like a wall), while 'obstacle' can be a single, potentially surmountable thing in your path. 'Barrier' is more common in compound nouns (e.g., language barrier).
Yes, but it is less common and means 'to block or enclose with a barrier' (e.g., 'The area was barriered off'). The noun form is vastly more frequent.
No, it is a conceptual/technical term for the rapid increase in aerodynamic drag as an object approaches the speed of sound. It is an invisible physical phenomenon, not a tangible object.