# barrier

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbæɹi.ə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #5,574

## Definitions
1. A structure that bars passage.
2. An obstacle or impediment.
3. A boundary or limit.
4. A node (in government and binding theory) said to intervene between other nodes A and B if it is a potential governor for B, c-commands B, and does not c-command A.
5. A separation between two areas of the body where specialized cells allow the entry of certain substances but prevent the entry of others.
6. The lists in a tournament.
7. A martial exercise of the 15th and 16th centuries.

## Etymology
From Middle English barryer, barrere, barryȝer, from Old French barriere (compare French barrière), from Old French barre (“bar”).

## Easily confused with
- **barter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barrier-vs-barter)
- **barrio** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barrier-vs-barrio)
- **barring** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barrier-vs-barring)
- **Bernier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barrier-vs-bernier)
- **Barrios** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barrier-vs-barrios)
- **barrister** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barrier-vs-barrister)
- **barre** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barre-vs-barrier)
- **barrel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barrel-vs-barrier)
- **barber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barber-vs-barrier)
- **barred** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barred-vs-barrier)
- **barker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barker-vs-barrier)
- **barbie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barbie-vs-barrier)
- **barren** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/barren-vs-barrier)

## Common misspellings (8)
`abrrier`, `barier`, `barirer`, `barreir`, `barrierr`, `barrire`, `bbarrier`, `brarier`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/barrier