blockade

verb

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block·ade | \ blä-ˈkād

blockaded; blockading

Definition of blockade

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to subject to a blockade

2 : block, obstruct

blockade

noun

Definition of blockade (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the isolation by a warring nation of an enemy area (such as a harbor) by troops or warships to prevent passage of persons or supplies broadly : a restrictive measure designed to obstruct the commerce and communications of an unfriendly nation

2 : something that blocks

3 : interruption of normal physiological function (such as transmission of nerve impulses) of a cellular receptor, tissue, or organ also : inhibition of a physiologically active substance (such as a hormone)

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Examples of blockade in a Sentence

Verb They blockaded the country's ports. the militant protestors blockaded the whole area around city hall Noun it was the blockade of all the enemy's major ports that finally won the war

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The Senate has no excuse to ignore, blockade or stonewall consideration of this nominee. — NBC News, "Meet the Press - September 27, 2020," 27 Sep. 2020 About 1 million people marched against an extradition bill with China on June 9, 2019, while three days later, protesters blockaded the city's legislature and clashed with police to prevent the law being passed. — James Griffiths, CNN, "Thousands of Hong Kongers defy police ban to remember Tiananmen Square," 4 June 2020 In the past two weeks, protesters showing solidarity with those Wet’suwet’en have blockaded rail lines, ports, and other key economic arteries. — Kevin Orland, Bloomberg.com, "The Fight Over a Gas Pipeline Is Paralyzing Parts of Canada’s Economy," 9 May 2020 New York City’s port authorities blockaded ships of suspect origin, and citizen patrols sought to root out refugees, but, in the fall of 1798, the unmistakable signatures of the disease appeared upon the bodies of dead dockworkers. — Frederick Kaufman, The New Yorker, "Pandemics Go Hand in Hand with Conspiracy Theories," 13 May 2020 Qatar sued Banque Havilland in London last year, accusing the lender of leading a financial attack with the aim of destabilizing the Qatari riyal at the same time as its Gulf neighbors blockaded the gas-rich nation. — Jonathan Browning, Bloomberg.com, "Banque Havilland Investigated by FCA Over Qatar FX Manipulation," 29 Apr. 2020 In other towns, people blockaded entries to local hospitals, fearing the evacuees might be diverted to them. — Patrick Reevell, ABC News, "Hysteria over coronavirus sparks violent protests in Ukraine," 21 Feb. 2020 Rioters had blockaded even the port in an ill-fated attempt to keep foreigners, presumed to be carriers, from disembarking their ships. — James Mcclintock | Uab Professor, al, "Leaving Antarctica for a COVID-19 world," 17 Apr. 2020 Others blockaded the roads leading to Bolivian cities, cutting off supplies of food and fuel. — Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, "The Fall of Evo Morales," 16 Mar. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun But the Indian government’s communications blockade has hurt him. — New York Times, "In Kashmir’s Stillness, Hopes Wither and Houseboats Sink," 11 Jan. 2021 The decision to welcome Qatar back to the fold of the Gulf Nations after a three-and-a-half year blockade could lead to a stronger resolve against Iran, say experts. — Eric Shawn, Fox News, "A new front against Iran for 2021," 10 Jan. 2021 Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates cut diplomatic, trade and travel ties with energy-rich Qatar in 2017, imposing a blockade that separated families and businesses and shattered Gulf unity. — Saphora Smith, NBC News, "Saudi Arabia lifts blockade of Qatar in breakthrough agreement easing Gulf crisis," 5 Jan. 2021 The outbreak of the Civil War triggered a blockade on shipping. — Richard Campanella, NOLA.com, "acquisition of 1,100 acres," 1 Jan. 2021 The move evoked the Cold War operation by American and British planes to keep West Berlin supplied with food and other essentials during a Soviet blockade in 1948 and 1949. — Mark Thompson, CNN, "Lufthansa airlifts fresh food to England as UK border chaos continues," 23 Dec. 2020 Traffic began flowing Monday on North Mississippi Avenue, the site of a nearly weeklong blockade supporting a Black and Indigenous family fighting to regain their home lost to foreclosure. — The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, "Portland ‘red house’ occupation: Streets now clear; tentative deal reached," 15 Dec. 2020 Most agree Boulogne would be a prime target because so much U.K. fish is exported through there, and a blockade is relatively easy to achieve. — Raf Casert, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why the tiny fishing industry plays a big role in Brexit talks," 4 Dec. 2020 In response, a coalition headed by Saudi Arabia launched a brutal air campaign as well as a full blockade that has brought Yemen to the brink of famine. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, "‘We’re not alive, we’re not dead’: Thousands of migrants are trapped in war-torn Yemen," 1 Dec. 2020

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

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“Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blockade. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for blockade

blockade

verb

English Language Learners Definition of blockade

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to place a blockade on (a port or country) : to stop people or supplies from entering or leaving (a port or country) especially during a war

blockade

noun

English Language Learners Definition of blockade (Entry 2 of 2)

: an act of war in which one country uses ships to stop people or supplies from entering or leaving another country

See the full definition for blockade in the English Language Learners Dictionary

blockade

verb

block·ade | \ blä-ˈkād

blockaded; blockading

Kids Definition of blockade

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to close off a place to prevent the coming in or going out of people or supplies

blockade

noun

Kids Definition of blockade (Entry 2 of 2)

: the closing off of a place (as by warships) to prevent the coming in or going out of people or supplies

blockade

noun

block·ade | \ blä-ˈkād

Medical Definition of blockade

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : interruption of normal physiological function (as transmission of nerve impulses) of a cellular receptor, tissue, or organ

b : inhibition of a physiologically active substance (as a hormone)

2 : the process of reducing the phagocytic capabilities of the mononuclear phagocyte system by loading it with harmless material (as India ink or lampblack) which engages its cells in phagocytosis and prevents them from reacting to new antigenic material — compare blocking antibody

blockade

transitive verb

blockaded; blockading

Medical Definition of blockade (Entry 2 of 2)

: to subject to blockade

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