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

This one is sure to be a talker for several reasons, not the least of which being that the film’s production reportedly ran into a major roadblock with the script that delayed the film’s release. —Dan Heching, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026

Pro-government youths wielding automatic rifles set up roadblocks or sped through the streets on motorcycles, a warning to those who might celebrate Maduro’s downfall. —Mery Mogollon, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026

Street safety advocates have long pushed for the road to be revamped, but the plan hit roadblocks under Adams, who worked to scale back the project. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026

According to the same survey, almost a third (32%) of people note cost as the most significant roadblock to achieving these goals. —Ryley Amond, CNBC, 1 Jan. 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