1
a
: a temporary combination of parties in a legislative assembly
b
: a group of legislators who act together for some common purpose irrespective of party lines
2
a
: a combination of persons, groups, or nations forming a unit with a common interest or purpose
a bloc of voters
b
: a group of nations united by treaty or agreement for mutual support or joint action
3
: a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit : block
… seeking to buy and sell a large bloc of shares …—
Stuart Washington
Stuart WashingtonPotvin's outstanding bloc of games during his rookie campaign occurred during the 1993 playoffs.—Stan Fischler
Stan FischlerExamples of bloc in a Sentence
a voting bloc in the senate
a whole bloc of students got together to complain
Recent Examples on the Web
While directly countering or breaking up the bloc would prove futile, China turned to exploiting regional rivalries to secure its energy supplies.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
The bloc’s top trade official has shuttled between Brussels and Washington trying to find a solution, but with little to show, the commission has made public a list of American imports for possible targeting worth 95 billion euros ($107 billion).
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
Both looked to extract concessions from the bloc before approving their renewal, most recently in March.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 8 May 2025
Lengthy deliberations, like those in the 13th century, signaled factional chaos, while rapid outcomes typically suggest a unified or pragmatic voting bloc.
—Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bloc
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Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
The bloc’s top trade official has shuttled between Brussels and Washington trying to find a solution, but with little to show, the commission has made public a list of American imports for possible targeting worth 95 billion euros ($107 billion).
—Lorne Cook, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
Both looked to extract concessions from the bloc before approving their renewal, most recently in March.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 8 May 2025
Lengthy deliberations, like those in the 13th century, signaled factional chaos, while rapid outcomes typically suggest a unified or pragmatic voting bloc.
—Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bloc
Cite this Entry
“Bloc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloc. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bloc
noun
: a combination of persons, groups, or nations united by treaty, agreement, or common interest
a bloc of voters
Etymology
French, literally, "block"
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