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

Once swallowed, plastic can cause physical injury, blockages, reduced feeding and poor nutritional condition. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

What initially began as an oil supply shock caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockage is morphing into a fuel supply crisis. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

In particular, Gastevich said the flooding problems have been created because of a blockage of the nearby Kemper Ditch and a culvert. — Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

This leads to blockages that don’t allow the fan to work properly, which then leaves behind lots of moisture in the room. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blockage

• dockage
• lockage
• socage

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