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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
Hundreds visit isolated island Residents in Sapelo Island – a barrier island about 7 miles off the coast of Georgia accessible only by boat or ferry – have expressed concerns over zoning laws and access to emergency and other government services in the past.
—Nicole Chavez, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024
On October 9, storm surges of eight to ten feet pushed large amounts of sand into Manasota Key, a thin barrier island off Florida’s west coast, where the retreat is located.
—Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2024
What to know Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near Siesta Key, Florida, a barrier island next to Sarasota.
—NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024
The eye of the storm made landfall in Siesta Key, a barrier island off Sarasota about 60 miles south of the Tampa.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for barrier island
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'barrier island.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1773, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near barrier island
Cite this Entry
“Barrier island.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barrier%20island. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
barrier island
noun
: a long broad sandy island parallel to a shore that is built up by the action of waves, currents, and winds
More from Merriam-Webster on barrier island
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barrier island
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