blockade
Americannoun
-
the isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships or troops to prevent entrance or exit.
-
any obstruction of passage or progress.
We had difficulty in getting through the blockade of bodyguards.
-
Pathology. interruption or inhibition of a normal physiological signal, as a nerve impulse or a heart muscle–contraction impulse.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
military the interdiction of a nation's sea lines of communications, esp of an individual port by the use of sea power
-
something that prevents access or progress
-
med the inhibition of the effect of a hormone or a drug, a transport system, or the action of a nerve by a drug
verb
-
to impose a blockade on
-
to obstruct the way to
Related Words
See siege.
Other Word Forms
- blockader noun
- counterblockade noun
- nonblockaded adjective
- preblockade noun
- problockade adjective
- unblockaded adjective
Etymology
Origin of blockade
1670–80; block (in the sense “to create obstacles”) + -ade 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Any such operation, if ordered, would risk significant casualties, considering that Iran relies on drones, missiles and small speedboats to strike vessels that attempt to defy its blockade.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
But this does not appear to be a step toward ending the U.S. sanctions, or blockade, against Cuba.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Among other acts of extortion, this was an important weapon that he was using to enforce the blockade against Cuba.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Washington slightly eased the blockade last month to allow oil sales to Cuba's small private sector.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
I tried going around back, but he shuffled sideways, arms out, doing this blockade dance sort of thing so I couldn’t get by.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
