blockage

noun

block·age | \ ˈblä-kij

Definition of blockage

: an act or instance of obstructing : the state of being blocked a blockage in a coronary artery

Examples of blockage in a Sentence

He had surgery to open up blockages in his arteries. trying to prevent blockage of the artery

Recent Examples on the Web

One more way to loosen up blockages is by steaming with anti-inflammatory essential oils such as lemongrass, eucalyptus, rosemary, and oregano. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "6 All-Natural Strategies for Fighting the Cold and Flu This Winter," 8 Jan. 2019 Metro will be more nimble than usual, changing paths as blockages happen, said Bill Bryant, Metro service development director. — Mike Lindblom, The Seattle Times, "What will the Highway 99 tunnel opening mean for bus routes, detours and tsunamis? We answer those questions and more," 12 Dec. 2018 Clearing a blockage can be done by hand, while wearing a glove. — Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, "How to Repair Your Gutters and Save Your Home," 16 Jan. 2019 If there isn’t a visible coolant leak anywhere, and the problem is still coolant related, there may be a blockage somewhere. — Zachary Palmer, Popular Mechanics, "How To Diagnose an Overheating Car," 14 Sep. 2018 Lane first spoke to doctors about nausea and stomach pain in January, People reported, and was given laxatives to treat what was thought to be an intestinal blockage. — Sarah Klein, Health.com, "This Woman Died From Hantavirus—a Rare Infection Initially Mistaken for the Flu," 27 Apr. 2018 The status light alerts you if there's a blockage or low airflow through the duct. — The Good Housekeeping Institute, Good Housekeeping, "Kenmore Elite 91852 7.4 cu. ft. Front Load Gas Dryer, 796.91582410," 13 Sep. 2016 The crackdown triggered larger protests and road blockages fed by longstanding frustration with Mr. Ortega’s authoritarian drive. — José De Córdoba, WSJ, "Nicaragua TV Station Owner Accused of Inciting Hatred," 22 Dec. 2018 The inflammation that results from this disease may make the lining of the uterus less receptive to an embryo or cause scarring and blockage of the fallopian tubes, thus preventing fertilization from taking place. — Jennifer Gerson, Marie Claire, "Why Can't I Get Pregnant?," 1 Oct. 2018

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

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Last Updated

10 Feb 2019

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Time Traveler for blockage

The first known use of blockage was in 1759

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More Definitions for blockage

blockage

noun

English Language Learners Definition of blockage

: something that stops something (such as blood) from moving through something (such as a blood vessel)

: the state of being blocked

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

blockage

noun

block·age | \ ˈbläk-ij

Medical Definition of blockage

: the action of blocking or the state of being blocked: as

a : blockade sense 2

b : internal resistance to understanding a communicated idea, to learning new material, or to adopting a new mode of response because of existing habitual ways of thinking, perceiving, and acting — compare blocking

blockage

noun

block·age

Legal Definition of blockage

: the condition of a large block of items of property (as shares of stock) that requires special valuation for purposes of estate and gift tax because the value of the items sold as a block differs from their value if sold individually