bloc

noun

\ ˈbläk

Definition of bloc

1a : 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

2a : 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 Potvin's outstanding bloc of games during his rookie campaign occurred during the 1993 playoffs. —Stan Fischler

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about bloc

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Examples 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

California gets 55 electors in the Electoral College -- a powerful number that has been a huge unmovable bloc for the Democratic candidate. — Madison Park, CNN, "Initiative to break California into 3 states to go on November ballot," 13 June 2018 Women of color were the fastest-growing voting bloc in the country in 2014. — Aimee Allison, Teen Vogue, "Women of Color Are Making Election History in 2018," 24 May 2018 Black women have proven a major voting bloc in presidential, Senate and local races across the country. — Essence.com, "Black Women Launch Major Voter Campaign For Mid-Term Election Cycle," 11 May 2018 The Freedom Caucus is an influential bloc within Congress, but to impeach Rosenstein its members would need the support of House or Judiciary Committee leadership, and a majority of members. — The Washington Post, AL.com, "Trump threatens to use 'power of Presidency' against 'rigged system'," 2 May 2018 Among the nations that sit on the edge of these blocs, squeezed between the West and Russia, the tensions within NATO have not prompted people to start digging trenches or calling up reserves. — Simon Shuster/tallinn, Time, "Trump Shakes Up NATO, but Eastern European Allies Aren't Stirred," 13 July 2018 But its status remains precarious – as does that of the European Union, which depends on Germany's stability to unite the increasingly fractious bloc. — Chris Cottrell, The Christian Science Monitor, "Immigration deal saves German government, points to European future," 9 July 2018 The proposal aims to keep the UK and the bloc in a free-trade zone for goods, but not for services, which make up the bulk of the British economy. — Jill Lawless, BostonGlobe.com, "After marathon meeting, UK leaders endorse Brexit trade plan," 6 July 2018 Its neighbors – Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina – are patiently waiting in line to join the bloc while steadily improving their democracies and economies. — The Christian Science Monitor, "Why this World Cup final is like no other," 13 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bloc.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.