logjam

noun

log·​jam ˈlȯg-ˌjam 

ˈläg-

1

: a jumble of logs jammed together in a watercourse

2

a

: deadlock, impasse

trying to break the logjam in negotiations

b

: blockage

c

: jam, crowd

logjam transitive verb

Synonyms of logjam

• jam
• congestion
• bottleneck

Examples of logjam in a Sentence

He was called in to try to break the logjam in the negotiations.

the presence of an ambulance on the side of the highway created a logjam of rubberneckers who just had to have a look

Recent Examples on the Web

America’s ratification that year broke a logjam of inaction by nations that had signed the agreement but were wary about actually ratifying it as a legal document. —Gary W. Yohe, The Conversation, 10 Jan. 2026

So does an infield logjam that may have to be remedied before the team reports to West Palm Beach next month. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026

But while Refsnyder was highly regarded within the Red Sox clubhouse, his position may have grown tenuous given the team’s outfield logjam. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Dec. 2025

Think of it as a logjam of gas, and as more and more gas piles up, the density rises and the temperature increases, causing the disk to shine brilliantly. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for logjam

• abram
• ashram
• begam
• buckram
• doorjamb
• exam
• goddam
• grandam
• priam
• program
• programme
• wolfram