bloc

noun

ˈbläk 

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

Potvin's outstanding bloc of games during his rookie campaign occurred during the 1993 playoffs.

—Stan Fischler

Synonyms

• block
• body
• coalition
• faction
• party
• sect
• set
• side
• wing

Examples 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

And the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, proposed this month to end the 27-nation bloc’s duty-free treatment of packages worth up to 150 euros ($156). —Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025

The events of 1989, when the Soviet bloc evaporated, left a legacy of defense cutbacks in the West that are only now being reversed. —Clare Sebastian, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025

The bloc’s landmark AI law, which recently became enforceable for the first time, imposes tough restrictions and threatens hefty fines for breaches. —Ryan Browne, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025

European lawmakers last year approved the bloc's AI Act, the world's first comprehensive set of rules governing the technology. —Jeffrey Dastin and Ingrid Melander, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, block

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bloc

• en bloc
• sterling bloc

Kids Definition

bloc

noun

ˈbläk 

: a combination of persons, groups, or nations united by treaty, agreement, or common interest

a bloc of voters

Etymology

French, literally, "block"