buffer zone

noun

: a neutral area separating conflicting forces
broadly : an area designed to separate

Examples of buffer zone in a Sentence

There must be a 500-foot buffer zone between the river and the new buildings.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The Israeli military seized a 400 square kilometer buffer zone inside Syria after the 2024 collapse of the Assad regime and has occupied it since. — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 The change decreased electricity demand by 35%, removed more than two dozen generators from the site and created a buffer zone between the Pennsy Trail and a nearby elementary school. — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 24 Aug. 2026 Experts say mining projects within this buffer zone can cause environmental damage. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 Create a buffer zone of about 18 inches between any landscaping and your garage’s exterior. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for buffer zone

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of buffer zone was in 1908

Rhymes for buffer zone

See All Rhymes for buffer zone

Browse Nearby Words

buffer strip
buffer zone
buffet
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Buffer zone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buffer%20zone. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Legal Definition

buffer zone

noun
: an area designed to separate: as
a
: an area with certain boundaries beyond which protestors may not pass
b
: an area separating land used for different purposes
a buffer zone between the development and the park
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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