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

These should function like working sessions for interdependent leaders to proactively work to identify and resolve roadblocks, collaborate, facilitate smooth handoffs and share resources. —Nick Leighton, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025

That volume is slated to come out later this year and had not hit roadblocks. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 18 July 2025

Despite the recent April groundbreaking on its first development project, plans for the Rice Creek Commons site in Arden Hills have reached a new roadblock. —Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 18 July 2025

There’s a larger excitement roadblock, however, in the lip-sync finale itself. —Chris Feil, Vulture, 18 July 2025

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