bloc

noun

ˈbläk 

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

Potvin's outstanding bloc of games during his rookie campaign occurred during the 1993 playoffs.

—Stan Fischler

Synonyms of bloc

• faction
• party
• coalition
• wing
• side

Examples 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

Fragmentation in the form of armed conflicts, tariff disputes and the dissolution of trade blocs is at an all-time high. — Yasushi Sasaki, Fortune, 30 July 2026

More than 36 million Latinos are now eligible to vote — the nation's second-largest voting bloc and its fastest-growing electorate. — Shawna Mizelle, CBS News, 30 July 2026

The polling data show Johnson leads among the same voter blocs Hinojosa leads; Middleton leads the same blocs as Abbott. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Backed by a powerful conservative bloc in Congress, Fujimori is pledging an ‘iron fist’ on crime. — Franklin Briceño, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, block

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bloc

• en bloc
• sterling bloc

Rhymes for bloc

• balk
• baulk
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock
• croc

Kids Definition

bloc

noun

ˈbläk 

: a combination of persons, groups, or nations united by treaty, agreement, or common interest

a bloc of voters

Etymology

French, literally, "block"