barrier reef
noun
: a coral reef roughly parallel to a shore and separated from it usually by a lagoon
Examples of barrier reef in a Sentence
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Just offshore lies the Mesoamerican Reef, the largest barrier reef system in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world, an extremely vulnerable ecosystem.
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Natalie Leticia Gallón, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The fourth-largest barrier reef in the world, Anegada's Horseshoe Reef draws beginner snorkelers and dedicated divers to colorful corals hiding sublime marine life.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Grace Bay consistently ranks among the world’s most beautiful beaches, partly because a barrier reef a mile offshore keeps the waters calm and free of swells.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
Known for powdery white sand and an off-coast barrier reef, Gray Bay Beach is easy to access for any traveler.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 2025
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Natalie Leticia Gallón, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The fourth-largest barrier reef in the world, Anegada's Horseshoe Reef draws beginner snorkelers and dedicated divers to colorful corals hiding sublime marine life.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Grace Bay consistently ranks among the world’s most beautiful beaches, partly because a barrier reef a mile offshore keeps the waters calm and free of swells.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
Known for powdery white sand and an off-coast barrier reef, Gray Bay Beach is easy to access for any traveler.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for barrier reef
Cite this Entry
“Barrier reef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barrier%20reef. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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