-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
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 frantic scene after an aluminum gangway collapsed Saturday at a boat dock on a Georgia barrier island capped what was supposed to have been a day of celebration, an annual festival spotlighting the culture and history of Sapelo Island's tiny Gullah-Geechee community of Black slave descendants.
—CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
After making landfall near Siesta Key, a barrier island near Sarasota, around 8:30 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, Milton cut a wide path of damage, flooding homes, downing trees and cutting power to more than 3 million Floridians.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2024
The area from Sarasota to Fort Myers and the barrier islands that line the region, seemed to have suffered the worst damage.
—Carolyn Kormann, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
The news rippled through Treasure Island almost like a third storm: The mayor planned to move off the barrier island a month after Hurricane Helene flooded tens of thousands of homes along the Gulf Coast and two weeks after Hurricane Milton also ravaged the state.
—Mike Schneider, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2024
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.
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 5 Jan. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share