barrier island
noun
: a long broad sandy island lying parallel to a shore that is built up by the action of waves, currents, and winds and that protects the shore from the effects of the ocean
Examples of barrier island in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The park has incredibly diverse terrain—coastal sand dunes, dense forests, meandering rivers, barrier islands—and fauna such as moose, beavers, and river otters.
—
Steve Lyons, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
The beloved Georgia barrier island appears on the list almost every year—and for good reason.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Home to towns such as Rodanthe, Salvo, Waves, and Hatteras Village, the barrier island is long — nearly 50 miles from end to end.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025
Something about being surrounded by water (the chain of barrier islands is sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and a handful of sounds) makes everything else feel far away.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barrier island
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Steve Lyons, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
The beloved Georgia barrier island appears on the list almost every year—and for good reason.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2025
Home to towns such as Rodanthe, Salvo, Waves, and Hatteras Village, the barrier island is long — nearly 50 miles from end to end.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025
Something about being surrounded by water (the chain of barrier islands is sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and a handful of sounds) makes everything else feel far away.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barrier island
Cite this Entry
“Barrier island.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barrier%20island. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share