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

Even if pipes don't freeze, Hiller says pipes exposed to cold temperatures can worsen drain blockages, as cold temperatures harden soap residue and grease in the drain. —Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 22 Jan. 2026

The hippos carve the winding channels of the Delta, breaking through blockages of reeds and water lilies and opening floodgates for the rain that flows down from Angola each year. —Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026

Authorities were worried the blockage would impact water pressure and service, especially in higher elevation neighborhoods. —Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026

Spinal strokes, which are very rare and account for less than 1% of all strokes, occur when there is a blockage in the blood supply to the spinal cord, according to the Cleveland Clinic. —Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 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