blockchain

noun

block·​chain ˈbläk-ˌchān 

: a digital database containing information (such as records of financial transactions) that can be simultaneously used and shared within a large decentralized, publicly accessible network

also : the technology used to create such a database

The technology at the heart of bitcoin and other virtual currencies, blockchain is an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way.

—Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani

Examples of blockchain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The denial comes as blockchain analytics firms trace billions of dollars in cryptocurrency stolen from Binance through thousands of wallets across multiple blockchains. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2026

The real financial innovation is not simply putting club equity on a blockchain. — Julian La Picque, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

The convergence between traditional and blockchain-based worlds of finance continues to accelerate. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Lyall works as a chief product officer at a blockchain company. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2011, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blockchain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• butane
• campaign
• cetane