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

But along those same lines, sources say, Disney was encountering roadblocks in getting the OK from voice actors for the Sora pact. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026

Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sicelo Mhlauli and Sparrow Mkonto, three of them teachers, were abducted by police at a roadblock and killed. —CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026

His crusade against offshore wind farms has run into legal roadblocks, so the administration is reportedly offering $1 billion in taxpayer money to stop projects off New York and North Carolina. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2026

That’s not the only bill to hit a roadblock. —Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 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