block grant

noun

: an unrestricted grant made by the U.S. federal government to state and local governments to be used at their discretion to pay especially for social services that were formerly paid for through specific federal programs

Examples of block grant in a Sentence

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.
Those that demonstrate a track record of accelerating housing development would receive larger federal block grants. Editorial, Boston Herald, 1 Sep. 2025 Earlier in the summer, disagreements emerged over the rollout of the disaster aid block grant. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 18 Aug. 2025 Santos asked how the district is preparing if the money remains frozen or is redirected to states as block grants, which would give Florida discretion over how (or whether) to target the same areas the grants were meant to fund. Miami Herald, 17 July 2025 In the department’s budget request, the academic enrichment in grant is one of several to be folded into a single state undesignated block grant, to be spent however the state chooses. Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for block grant

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of block grant was in 1966

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Cite this Entry

“Block grant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/block%20grant. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Legal Definition

block grant

noun
: an unrestricted federal grant

More from Merriam-Webster on block grant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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