blockage

noun

block·​age ˈblä-kij 

: 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

According to the Mayo Clinic, ileus is another way to describe intestinal obstructions, blockages that can keep food from continuing on its path through the small and large intestine. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2023

There’s a blockage associated with putting out music without that fifth member of the Beatles, so to speak. —Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2023

In people with severe heart disease (the kind with blockages in the arteries), overdoing exercise can lead to a heart attack, but these are exceptions. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 12 Sep. 2023

The inflamed gallbladder may become swollen and filled with mucus, leading to a blockage that restricts the flow of bile. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023

Constipation Constipation happens if a blockage or change in your diet causes your small or large intestines to be unable to move waste along. —Amanda Gardner, Health, 29 Oct. 2023

The bacterial enzymes in the cleaner slowly break down natural blockages, like hair and food, but might not be strong enough to dissolve a complete blockage. —Tanya Edwards, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023

Bowel obstructions — which occur when a blockage prevents food or liquid from moving through the intestines — were seen at a rate of 8 cases per 1,000 users of liraglutide. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 5 Oct. 2023

The blockage has prevented the distribution of food, water, medicine and other essentials. —Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age ˈbläk-ij 

: an act or instance of blocking : the state of being blocked

a blockage in an artery

Medical Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age ˈbläk-ij 

: 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

Legal Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age

: 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