blockage

noun

block·​age ˈblä-kij 

: an act or instance of obstructing : the state of being blocked

a blockage in a coronary artery

Examples of blockage in a Sentence

He had surgery to open up blockages in his arteries.

trying to prevent blockage of the artery

Recent Examples on the Web

Frequent yellow vomit can indicate another issue, such as a health condition or intestinal blockage. —Cristina Mutchler, Health, 11 Jan. 2025

If needed, a cystoscopy—involving the insertion of a lighted scope into the urethra—can directly check for blockages or other structural abnormalities.13 If a UTI is involved, a urine culture and urine DNA test may be ordered to pinpoint which species of bacteria is involved. —Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 1 Jan. 2025

Coffee grounds The leftovers from your brew can easily clump together and cause an unpleasant smell in addition to blockage. —Julia Mitchem, Architectural Digest, 30 Dec. 2024

Researchers have recently found links between GLP-1 drugs and gastroparesis, intestinal blockage, inflammation of the pancreas, blood clots, and an eye disease that can lead to blindness. —Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1724, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age ˈbläk-ij 

: an act or instance of blocking : the state of being blocked

a blockage in an artery

Medical Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age ˈbläk-ij 

: the action of blocking or the state of being blocked: as

a

: blockade sense 2

b

: internal resistance to understanding a communicated idea, to learning new material, or to adopting a new mode of response because of existing habitual ways of thinking, perceiving, and acting compare blocking

Legal Definition

blockage

noun

block·​age

: the condition of a large block of items of property (as shares of stock) that requires special valuation for purposes of estate and gift tax because the value of the items sold as a block differs from their value if sold individually