blockage

noun

block·​age ˈblä-kij 

: an act or instance of obstructing : the state of being blocked

a blockage in a coronary artery

Examples of blockage in a Sentence

He had surgery to open up blockages in his arteries.

trying to prevent blockage of the artery

Recent Examples on the Web

He is seen performing first aid, administering back blows to the infant to remove the blockage. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026

This blockage eventually kills the plant. —Lily Peck, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026

Your heart may be working overtime to push blood through the artery blockage. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 10 Feb. 2026

This blockage can sharply reduce blood flow, strain the heart, and limit oxygen levels in the body. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blockage

• dockage
• lockage

Kids Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age ˈbläk-ij 

: an act or instance of blocking : the state of being blocked

a blockage in an artery

Medical Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age ˈbläk-ij 

: the action of blocking or the state of being blocked: as

a

: blockade sense 2

b

: internal resistance to understanding a communicated idea, to learning new material, or to adopting a new mode of response because of existing habitual ways of thinking, perceiving, and acting compare blocking

Legal Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age

: the condition of a large block of items of property (as shares of stock) that requires special valuation for purposes of estate and gift tax because the value of the items sold as a block differs from their value if sold individually