BLOCKADE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

BLOCKADE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Est. 1828 Dictionary Definition verb noun verb 2 verb noun Synonyms Example Sentences Word History Phrases Containing Rhymes Entries Near Cite this Entry Citation Kids Definition Kids Medical Definition Medical More from M-W Show more Show more Citation Kids Medical More from M-W Save Word To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In blockade 1 of 2 verb block·​ade blä-ˈkād blockaded ; blockading Synonyms of blockade Simple Definition A Simple Definition is available from our Learner's Dictionary to help you understand the meaning faster. transitive verb 1 : to subject to a blockade 2 : block , obstruct blockader noun blockade 2 of 2 noun 1 : the isolation by a warring nation of an enemy area (such as a harbor) by troops or warships to prevent passage of persons or supplies broadly : a restrictive measure designed to obstruct the commerce and communications of an unfriendly nation 2 : something that blocks 3 : interruption of normal physiological function (such as transmission of nerve impulses) of a cellular receptor, tissue, or organ also : inhibition of a physiologically active substance (such as a hormone) Synonyms of blockade Relevance Verb guard Noun siege See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus Examples of blockade in a Sentence Verb They blockaded the country's ports. the militant protestors blockaded the whole area around city hall Noun it was the blockade of all the enemy's major ports that finally won the war Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Verb On Thursday, though, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf – who is leading negotiations for Tehran and has emerged as the key voice of the Iranian government – ridiculed the notion of blockading Iran, pointing to the country’s extensive land and maritime borders. — Nic Robertson, CNN Money , 1 May 2026 No nation can blockade sunlight. — Jennifer Granholm, semafor.com , 30 Apr. 2026 Noun The blockade order applies to all Iranian ports, both inside and outside the strait — but what does a blockade entail? — Charbel Mallo, CNN Money , 3 May 2026 The fact is that what the President is seeing is that the blockade is working. — CBS News , 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for blockade Word History Etymology Verb derivative of blockade entry 2 Noun block entry 2 + -ade , after German (17th century) Blocquade, Bloquade, Bloquada & Dutch (17th century) Blocquade, Bloquade Note: The German and Dutch words, which are common in accounts of contemporary events in Europe following the siege and sack of Magdeburg in 1631, are of uncertain origin. They appear to have no Romance antecedents. According to R. J. Brunt, The Influence of the French Language on the German Vocabulary: 1649-1735 (De Gruyter, 2013) "…Ger[man] Blockade probably derives from Ital[ian] bloccato, the past part[iciple] of the verb bloccare 'stringere con il blocco, privare di refornimenti" (p. 160). It seems much more likely however, as Brunt suggests in the same paragraph, that the word was formed from German bloquiren (present-day blockieren ), attested earlier and probably borrowed from French blocquer (though in this sense the word is attested only slightly earlier). The suffix -ade/-ada is a distinct borrowing from Romance sources. The Dutch word may have been borrowed from German, or independently formed from blockeren "to enclose" (present-day blokkeren "to obstruct"), also borrowed from French. First Known Use Verb 1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun 1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Time Traveler The first known use of blockade was in 1659 See more words from the same year Phrases Containing blockade blockade - runner counter - blockade Rhymes for blockade afraid allayed arcade arrayed assayed barmaid betrayed bridesmaid brigade brocade buffeted cascade See All Rhymes for blockade Browse Nearby Words Block blockade blockader See all Nearby Words Cite this Entry Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster “Blockade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blockade. Accessed 6 May. 2026. Copy Citation Kids Definition blockade noun block·​ade blä-ˈkād : the cutting off of an area by means of troops or warships to stop the coming in or going out of people or supplies blockade verb blockader noun Medical Definition blockade 1 of 2 noun block·​ade blä-ˈkād 1 a : interruption of normal physiological function (as transmission of nerve impulses) of a cellular receptor, tissue, or organ b : inhibition of a physiologically active substance (as a hormone) 2 : the process of reducing the phagocytic capabilities of the mononuclear phagocyte system by loading it with harmless material (as India ink or lampblack) which engages its cells in phagocytosis and prevents them from reacting to new antigenic material compare blocking antibody blockade 2 of 2 transitive verb blockaded ; blockading : to subject to blockade More from Merriam-Webster on blockade Nglish: Translation of blockade for Spanish Speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blockade Last Updated: 4 May 2026 - Updated example sentences Love words? 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