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
Hispanic voters are often misunderstood, with many viewing the bloc as motivated by issues of immigration and agriculture, according to the Los Angeles Times and previous Statesman reporting.
—Idaho Statesman, 16 May 2026
The original vision of the Accords – of a rapidly expanding regional bloc openly aligned with Israel and integrated economically across the Middle East – has become a significantly weaker prospect.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 15 May 2026
New divisions test global ambitions The bloc’s expansion also has added strains.
—Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
South Africa joined in 2010 and the bloc expanded further in 2024 with the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bloc
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Idaho Statesman, 16 May 2026
The original vision of the Accords – of a rapidly expanding regional bloc openly aligned with Israel and integrated economically across the Middle East – has become a significantly weaker prospect.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 15 May 2026
New divisions test global ambitions The bloc’s expansion also has added strains.
—Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
South Africa joined in 2010 and the bloc expanded further in 2024 with the addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
—ABC News, 14 May 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 18 May. 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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