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

Like the Suez Canal blockage in 2021, or the Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in 2024, the conflict has exposed the otherwise quiet machinery of global trade and its vital, yet fragile, role in the daily life of billions. —Alexander Smith, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026

Excessive bleeding, blood vessel blockages and infections are leading causes. —ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026

According to Ayurveda, warm water clears toxins and energy blockages. —Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2026

Trains entering the Canadian National Flat Rock Yard have created frequent blockages on Allen Road for decades. —Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blockage

• dockage
• lockage

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