roadblock

[ rohd-blok ]

noun

1. an obstruction placed across a road, especially of barricades or police cars, for halting or hindering traffic, as to facilitate the capture of a pursued car or inspection for safety violations.
2. an obstruction on a road, as a fallen tree or a pile of fallen rocks.
3. a hastily built barricade, as of barbed wire, erected across a road to hold up the advance of an enemy.
4. an action, condition, etc., that obstructs progress toward an objective:

   Nationalism is a roadblock to European unity.

verb (used with object)

1. to halt or obstruct with or as if with a roadblock.

roadblock

/ ˈrəʊdˌblɒk /

noun

1. a barrier set up across a road by the police or military, in order to stop a fugitive, inspect traffic, etc
2. a difficulty or obstacle to progress

Word History and Origins

Origin of roadblock¹

First recorded in 1935–40; road + block

Example Sentences

Undeterred, Freeman did what any software engineer would do when faced with such a roadblock: He took it online.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s where Raw Story ran into a roadblock erected by the Supreme Court.

From Los Angeles Times

With world leaders meeting next week for the latest UN climate talks, COP29, the Trump victory will be seen as a huge roadblock to progress in both cutting emissions and raising cash for developing countries.

From BBC

"But that doesn't seem to be a roadblock to proposing the elimination of it," she said.

From Salon

They encounter various clan militias with different allegiances, either lingering in the distance or at roadblocks.

From BBC

Related Words

• barricade
• blockade