1
a
: a temporary combination of parties in a legislative assembly
b
: a group of legislators who act together for some common purpose irrespective of party lines
2
a
: a combination of persons, groups, or nations forming a unit with a common interest or purpose
a bloc of voters
b
: a group of nations united by treaty or agreement for mutual support or joint action
3
: a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit : block
… seeking to buy and sell a large bloc of shares …—
Stuart Washington
Stuart WashingtonPotvin's outstanding bloc of games during his rookie campaign occurred during the 1993 playoffs.—Stan Fischler
Stan FischlerExamples of bloc in a Sentence
a voting bloc in the senate
a whole bloc of students got together to complain
Recent Examples on the Web
This was one reason why Qatar left Opec in 2019, damaging the image of a unified Middle Eastern bloc; Angola and Ecuador have also left.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 May 2026
In 2025, the average EU import price stood at only $16 per kilogram, while sourcing prices from Bangladesh, the main supplier to the bloc, were roughly $13 per kilogram.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
No ethnic group or voting bloc is apparently too small to overlook.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026
Members of the council’s progressive bloc — Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Ysabel Jurado and Nithya Raman — voted against the resolution.
—City News Service, Daily News, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bloc
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The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 May 2026
In 2025, the average EU import price stood at only $16 per kilogram, while sourcing prices from Bangladesh, the main supplier to the bloc, were roughly $13 per kilogram.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
No ethnic group or voting bloc is apparently too small to overlook.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026
Members of the council’s progressive bloc — Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, Ysabel Jurado and Nithya Raman — voted against the resolution.
—City News Service, Daily News, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bloc
Cite this Entry
“Bloc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloc. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bloc
noun
: a combination of persons, groups, or nations united by treaty, agreement, or common interest
a bloc of voters
Etymology
French, literally, "block"
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