1
a
: a temporary combination of parties in a legislative assembly
b
: a group of legislators who act together for some common purpose irrespective of party lines
2
a
: a combination of persons, groups, or nations forming a unit with a common interest or purpose
a bloc of voters
b
: a group of nations united by treaty or agreement for mutual support or joint action
3
: a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit : block
… seeking to buy and sell a large bloc of shares …—
Stuart Washington
Stuart WashingtonPotvin's outstanding bloc of games during his rookie campaign occurred during the 1993 playoffs.—Stan Fischler
Stan FischlerExamples of bloc in a Sentence
a voting bloc in the senate
a whole bloc of students got together to complain
Recent Examples on the Web
Conditions are bound to get worse for a crucial MAGA-friendly voting bloc just as a pivotal midterm election nears.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
The council, made up of seasoned political figures representing all sectors of Haitian society, had failed in their efforts to form a governing bloc to address the country’s core challenges, including security and elections.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
But in December, after pressure from carmakers, the bloc’s executive arm said the ban would apply to only 90% of new vehicles.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The commission is the EU’s executive arm and enforcer of the 27-nation bloc’s Digital Services Act, a sweeping rulebook that requires social media companies to clean up their platforms and protect users, under threat of hefty fines.
—Kelvin Chan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bloc
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Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
The council, made up of seasoned political figures representing all sectors of Haitian society, had failed in their efforts to form a governing bloc to address the country’s core challenges, including security and elections.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
But in December, after pressure from carmakers, the bloc’s executive arm said the ban would apply to only 90% of new vehicles.
—Olesya Dmitracova, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The commission is the EU’s executive arm and enforcer of the 27-nation bloc’s Digital Services Act, a sweeping rulebook that requires social media companies to clean up their platforms and protect users, under threat of hefty fines.
—Kelvin Chan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bloc
Cite this Entry
“Bloc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloc. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bloc
noun
: a combination of persons, groups, or nations united by treaty, agreement, or common interest
a bloc of voters
Etymology
French, literally, "block"
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