gridlock

[ grid-lok ]

noun

1. the stoppage of free vehicular movement in an urban area because key intersections are blocked by traffic.
2. the blocking of an intersection by vehicular traffic entering the intersection but unable to pass through it.
3. any situation in which nothing can move or proceed in any direction:

   a financial gridlock due to high interest rates.

gridlock

/ ˈɡrɪdˌlɒk /

noun

1. obstruction of urban traffic caused by queues of vehicles forming across junctions and causing further queues to form in the intersecting streets
2. a point in a dispute at which no agreement can be reached; deadlock

   political gridlock

verb

1. tr (of traffic) to block or obstruct (an area)

Other Words From

• gridlocked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gridlock¹

An Americanism dating back to 1975–80; grid + lock ¹

Example Sentences

As the gridlock worsened, three major hire bike platforms in China issued a joint statement urging students to use trains or buses for long distance travel and avoid using bikes at night for safety reasons.

From BBC

One local resident told the Mirror in July that traffic reaches “complete gridlock” while others told the National last year that a lack of sufficient public toilets had led to some visitors urinating in public.

From BBC

Joby says the technology will save customers significant travel time, especially in sprawling cities plagued by gridlock such as Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

However, significant traffic gridlock was expected in this major artery for trucks bringing goods to and from the harbor.

From Los Angeles Times

Having learned from COVID, managers say they now have better tracking systems and tools to monitor the flow of goods to reduce risks of gridlock.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bottleneck
• congestion
• impasse
• logjam