barrier to entry

noun

An impediment that prohibits the use, adoption, application, etc. of (something).

“The class has a number of prerequisites, so sadly there is a barrier to entry.”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounbarrier to entry (plural barriers to entry)

plural barriers to entry

  1. broadlyfigurativelyAn impediment that prohibits the use, adoption, application, etc. of (something).

    The class has a number of prerequisites, so sadly there is a barrier to entry.

  2. businessA cost that must be incurred by a new entrant into a market, but which does not apply to incumbents.
  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see barrier, to, entry.

Translations

Polish próg wejścia, próg wejścia
  • próg wejściaan impediment to use or application
  • próg wejścialiterally
Cite this entry
APA

barrier to entry. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barrier%20to%20entry

MLA

“barrier to entry.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barrier%20to%20entry. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “barrier to entry,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/barrier%20to%20entry.

Source: barrier to entry on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.