block grant

noun

Synonyms of block grantnext
: an unrestricted grant made by the U.S. federal government to state and local governments to be used at their discretion to pay especially for social services that were formerly paid for through specific federal programs

Examples of block grant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead of individual grants, block grants of around $4,000 were given to groups of about 20 people to manage jointly. Fatma Tanis, NPR, 13 Dec. 2025 The Child Care Development Fund is the federal block grant that primarily funds the voucher program. Sophia Paffenroth Mississippi Today, Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025 In May, the Trump administration put forward a budget proposal that would eliminate funding for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program entirely, instead replacing it with a block grant that schools could choose to use for homeless students. Rebecca Noel, Charlotte Observer, 13 Nov. 2025 Shrinking resources for assistance LIHEAP, created in 1981, provides funding to states as block grants to help low-income families pay their utility bills. Conor Harrison, The Conversation, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for block grant

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of block grant was in 1966

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Cite this Entry

“Block grant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/block%20grant. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.

Legal Definition

block grant

noun
: an unrestricted federal grant

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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