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Glite Dictionary
buffer zone

buffer zone

8 4.4
An area between two sides that reduces conflict and harm
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌfər zoʊn/
translation icon : zona de amortiguamiento
  • Usually, there was a substantial buffer zone between the townships and the nearest white neighborhood.
  • riparian buffer zone
  • strategic buffer zone
  • establish a buffer zone

And Ukraine is a buffer zone or a buffer nation, and it's rapidly becoming more Westernized.

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Examples

  • An early survey by CARE gathered basic data on resource management practices in the buffer zone of the Maya Biosphere Reserve.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Troop movements and exercises near the buffer zone are frequent occurrences.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The "hard" approach makes UN control of the buffer zone the central issue.

    Academic text (1995)

  • But talk of raising water levels and creating buffer zones has local farmers up in arms.

    Academic text (1994)

  • You will find species of plant and fauna hair in the buffer zone that you will not find anywhere else.

  • I need a two-mile buffer zone.

    Bad Company (2018)

  • And then this UN buffer zone which locks within its boundaries the airport, along with people's homes, businesses and farms.

  • For example, several pretexts have been used over the years for encroachment into the buffer zone.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The site includes 30 acres of water and 10 acres of berms, islands, and buffer zones.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The military wanted settlers to create a buffer zone between Israel and its enemies.

Synonyms

buffer
vsbuffer zone
19 5.2

An area of land between two groups to reduce the chance of fighting

is broader, also separating activities to prevent various negative effects
demilitarized zone
vsbuffer zone
  • Formal
8 4.8

An area where armies and weapons cannot go between two countries

separates groups generally to reduce conflict beyond just military restriction
neutral zone
vsbuffer zone
3 4.6

An area where no one fights or competes

aims to separate groups to lower conflict risk rather than guarantee no fighting
interzone
vsbuffer zone
7.5

A place between two different areas where one kind of land becomes another

is designed specifically to reduce conflict rather than only be transitional

Antonyms

conflict zone
  • Literature
4 4.3

An area where soldiers or armed groups are fighting

How Protective

demilitarized zone
  • Formal
8 4.8
buffer zone
8 4.4
border
∞ 1.0
boundary
232 3.1

Surface Forms

buffer zone singular
buffer zones plural

Morphology

buffer + zone

The meaning is directly and compositionally derivable from 'buffer' (something that cushions or reduces impact) plus 'zone' (an area), so a learner who knows both words can infer 'an area that reduces conflict or negative effects.' This is a straightforward compounding pattern with clear cross-linguistic parallels, making the expression immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Buffer zone The noun buffer zone comes from the idea of a soft buffer, a cushion or space, put between two zones or groups. Imagine a strip of trees or empty land that keeps two sides apart and so 'reduces conflict' and 'protects' them, which is why a buffer zone means an area that 'separates' and 'protects'.