roadblock

noun

road·​block ˈrōd-ˌbläk 

1

a

: a barricade often with traps or mines for holding up an enemy at a point on a road covered by fire

b

: a road barricade set up especially by law enforcement officers

2

: an obstruction in a road

3

: something that blocks progress or prevents accomplishment of an objective

roadblock transitive verb

Examples of roadblock in a Sentence

That's the one roadblock to the plan.

roadblocks on the path to success

Recent Examples on the Web

Ireland agonizingly captures the everyday indignities and legal roadblocks that survivors may encounter. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

The sources told the outlet that soldiers were unaware that a car that made a U-turn next to a military roadblock was driven by an American diplomat and thought someone was illegally avoiding the roadblock. — CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Setting up roadblocks won’t stop that future from arriving, New York can’t afford not to shape that future. — Al Sharpton, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026

And two Providence city councilors who stood as a roadblock against it were toppled. — Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for roadblock

• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock
• boardwalk
• catwalk
• cornstalk
• crosswalk
• deadlock
• feedstock
• fetlock
• flintlock
• goshawk

Kids Definition

roadblock

noun

road·​block -ˌbläk 

: a blocking of a road (as by police officers)

Legal Definition

roadblock

noun

road·​block

: a road barricade set up by law enforcement officers especially for the purpose of detecting criminal activity