cordon off
phrasal verb
cordoned off; cordoning off; cordons off
: to prevent people from getting into (an area) by putting a line of people or objects around or in front of it
Police cordoned off the street.
Examples of cordon off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ultimately, the British worked with an upstart liberal country—the United States—to cordon off the Western Hemisphere from European intervention, tacitly supporting the Monroe Doctrine with British naval might.
—
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Both industries have a significant focus on preventing hacks based upon requirements and industry standards with architectures that cordon off important areas.
—Steve Tengler, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
After a strike in Pakistan, militants often cordon off the area, remove their dead, and admit only local reporters sympathetic to their cause or decide on a body count themselves.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2013
Fort Worth leaders voted to cordon off sections of Craig Street in and around the Handley neighborhood in October.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2025
An eyesore near City Hall dropped bricks so often that the city had to cordon off the street.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
News of Short’s death spread quickly, and before authorities could cordon off the crime scene, reporters swarmed the area.
—Alex Gurley, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
In the absence of bollards, city officials used police vehicles and large metal barriers to cordon off Bourbon Street for New Year's festivities.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2025
Money also helps cordon off the boundaries of an exchange: Once the service has been provided and the money handed over, each party can walk away knowing they’re settled up.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
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Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Both industries have a significant focus on preventing hacks based upon requirements and industry standards with architectures that cordon off important areas.
—Steve Tengler, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
After a strike in Pakistan, militants often cordon off the area, remove their dead, and admit only local reporters sympathetic to their cause or decide on a body count themselves.
—Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2013
Fort Worth leaders voted to cordon off sections of Craig Street in and around the Handley neighborhood in October.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2025
An eyesore near City Hall dropped bricks so often that the city had to cordon off the street.
—Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
News of Short’s death spread quickly, and before authorities could cordon off the crime scene, reporters swarmed the area.
—Alex Gurley, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
In the absence of bollards, city officials used police vehicles and large metal barriers to cordon off Bourbon Street for New Year's festivities.
—George Petras, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2025
Money also helps cordon off the boundaries of an exchange: Once the service has been provided and the money handed over, each party can walk away knowing they’re settled up.
—Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cordon off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cordon%20off. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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