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

The project has hit roadblocks. —Madison Iszler, San Antonio Express-News, 10 Feb. 2026

After season 6 of the beloved Netflix series ended with big news regarding the melodrama's central couple potentially adopting a baby from one of Nurse Mel's patients, Marley (Rachel Drance), the series' new trailer introduces a concerning roadblock along the pair's path to parenthood. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026

But Mitchell said the city faced roadblocks without having the legal authority to make those plans happen. —Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026

However, state-level actions on immigration can run into roadblocks. —Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 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