32 Essential Collocations with "Barrier": Complete Guide with Examples

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Mastering collocations with barrier is essential for English fluency and exam success. This comprehensive guide presents 32 key collocations organized by category, from physical "concrete barriers" to abstract "psychological barriers." Each entry includes phonetic pronunciation, clear definitions, and practical examples to help you communicate with precision and confidence in academic, professional, and everyday contexts.

32 Essential Collocations with "Barrier": Complete Guide with Examples

I. What is the Barrier definition?
II. Compilation of common collocations with Barrier
III. Exercises on collocations with Barrier
1. 1. Exercise: Choose the correct answer
2. 2. Answer

I. What is the Barrier definition?

In English, Barrier is pronounced /ˈber.i.ɚ/ and functions as both a noun and an adjective.

Barrier acts as a noun and has the following meanings: a long pole, fence, wall, or natural feature, such as a mountain or sea, that stops people from going somewhere; anything that prevents people from being together or understanding each other. For example: The mountains acted as a natural barrier to the spread of the disease.
Barrier acts as an adjective, meaning: used to describe methods of preventing pregnancy that work by physically blocking sperm from coming into contact with an egg. For example: Barrier contraception has been shown to reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

II. Compilation of common collocations with Barrier

To help you learn collocations effectively and easily, PREP has compiled the most common collocations with Barrier along with their meanings and specific examples. Take a look!

1. Physical and Structural Barriers

No.	Collocations with Barrier	Example
1	Concrete barrier /ˌkɒŋˈkriːt ˈbærɪər/	The concrete barrier along the highway provides protection for motorists during accidents.
2	Steel barrier /stiːl ˈbærɪər/	Construction workers installed a steel barrier around the excavation site for safety.
3	Wooden barrier /ˈwʊdən ˈbærɪər/	The wooden barrier separated the construction zone from pedestrian walkways.
4	Crash barrier /kræʃ ˈbærɪər/	The crash barrier prevented the vehicle from plunging into the ravine.
5	Sound barrier /saʊnd ˈbærɪər/	The jet broke the sound barrier with a thunderous sonic boom.
6	Flood barrier /flʌd ˈbærɪər/	The flood barrier prevented the town from being inundated during the storm.
7	Fire barrier /ˈfaɪər ˈbærɪər/	The fire barrier contained the blaze within the designated area.

2. Economic and Trade Barriers

No.	Collocations with Barrier	Example
8	Trade barrier /treɪd ˈbærɪər/	The government removed trade barriers to encourage international commerce.
9	Tariff barrier /ˈtærɪf ˈbærɪər/	The tariff barrier made imported goods significantly more expensive.
10	Entry barrier /ˈɛntri ˈbærɪər/	High capital requirements act as an entry barrier for new businesses in the industry.
11	Financial barrier /faɪˈnænʃəl ˈbærɪər/	The cost of tuition can be a significant financial barrier for students.
12	Economic barrier /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈbærɪər/	Economic barriers prevent many developing nations from accessing advanced technology.
13	Market barrier /ˈmɑːrkɪt ˈbærɪər/	Regulatory requirements created market barriers for foreign companies.

3. Social and Cultural Barriers

No.	Collocations with Barrier	Example
14	Cultural barrier /ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈbærɪər/	Language differences can be a significant cultural barrier in international communication.
15	Language barrier /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ ˈbærɪər/	The language barrier made it difficult for tourists to navigate the city.
16	Social barrier /ˈsoʊʃəl ˈbærɪər/	Education helps break down social barriers between different economic classes.
17	Gender barrier /ˈdʒɛndər ˈbærɪər/	The company is working to break down gender barriers in the workplace.
18	Racial barrier /ˈreɪʃəl ˈbærɪər/	The civil rights movement fought to eliminate racial barriers in society.
19	Class barrier /klæs ˈbærɪər/	Private schools can reinforce class barriers in educational opportunities.

4. Administrative and Legal Barriers

No.	Collocations with Barrier	Example
20	Administrative barrier /ədˈmɪnɪstrətɪv ˈbærɪər/	The administrative barrier delayed the approval process for the construction project.
21	Bureaucratic barrier /ˌbjʊərəˈkrætɪk ˈbærɪər/	Bureaucratic barriers often hinder efficiency in government processes.
22	Legal barrier /ˈliːɡəl ˈbærɪər/	The legal barrier prevented the merger from proceeding as planned.
23	Regulatory barrier /ˈreɡjələtɔːri ˈbærɪər/	New regulatory barriers were introduced to protect consumer privacy.
24	Constitutional barrier /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənəl ˈbærɪər/	The court ruled that the law violated constitutional barriers to freedom of speech.

5. Psychological and Personal Barriers

No.	Collocations with Barrier	Example
25	Mental barrier /ˈmɛntəl ˈbærɪər/	Athletes often need to overcome mental barriers to achieve peak performance.
26	Psychological barrier /ˌsaɪkəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈbærɪər/	Fear of failure created a psychological barrier to taking risks.
27	Emotional barrier /ɪˈmoʊʃənəl ˈbærɪər/	Past trauma can create emotional barriers to forming relationships.
28	Personal barrier /ˈpɜːrsənəl ˈbærɪər/	Self-doubt often becomes a personal barrier to professional advancement.

6. Scientific and Technical Barriers

No.	Collocations with Barrier	Example
29	Technological barrier /ˌteknəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈbærɪər/	The technological barrier prevented widespread adoption of renewable energy.
30	Thermal barrier /ˈθɜːrməl ˈbærɪər/	The spacecraft required a thermal barrier to protect against extreme temperatures.
31	Moisture barrier /ˈmɔɪstʃər ˈbærɪər/	The moisture barrier prevents water damage to the building foundation.
32	Vapor barrier /ˈveɪpər ˈbærɪər/	Installing a vapor barrier helps control humidity levels in the basement.

These tables provide comprehensive coverage of common collocations with barrier across different contexts, helping learners understand how this word combines with various adjectives and nouns in English. Each example demonstrates practical usage in realistic scenarios, making the collocations easier to remember and apply in both written and spoken English.

For more collocations with Barrier, you can visit the link below!

EXPLORE MORE COLLOCATIONS WITH BARRIER ON CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY!

III. Exercises on collocations with Barrier

To further understand collocations with Barrier, let's complete the exercise below with PREP!

1. Exercise: Choose the correct answer

The company faced _______ when trying to obtain permits for their new construction project.
1. Administrative barriers
2. Geographic barriers
3. Great barriers
The fence erected around the property served as an _______ to keep trespassers out.
1. Geographical barrier
2. Artificial barrier
3. Greatest barrier
_______ provide natural protection to coastal communities from the erosive forces of waves and storms.
1. Barrier beaches
2. Impenetrable barriers
3. Import barriers
In semiconductor manufacturing, a _______ is often added to prevent diffusion of impurities into the substrate.
1. Barrier layer
2. Institutional barrier
3. Insurmountable barrier
Entrepreneurs often struggle with _______ when trying to start a business, facing layers of red tape and regulation.
1. Invisible barriers
2. Bureaucratic barriers
3. Internal barriers

2. Answer

1 - A

2 - B

3 - A

4 - A

5 - B

These 32 collocations with barrier provide essential vocabulary for expressing obstacles and challenges across various contexts. By incorporating these word combinations into your active vocabulary, you'll communicate more naturally and perform better in English proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEIC.

Chloe

Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.