blockchain

noun

block·​chain ˈbläk-ˌchān 

: a digital database containing information (such as records of financial transactions) that can be simultaneously used and shared within a large decentralized, publicly accessible network

also : the technology used to create such a database

The technology at the heart of bitcoin and other virtual currencies, blockchain is an open, distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way.

—Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani

Examples of blockchain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Too often, blockchain technology is overshadowed by the get-rich-quick schemes and speculative fervor of a few bad actors. —Bryan Benson, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Still, a few clues emerged on the blockchain, a public ledger of crypto transactions. —David Yaffe-Bellany, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025

Various types of blockchain networks exist, each designed for specific use cases, from financial transactions to supply chain management and beyond. —Peter Green, Quartz, 2 Feb. 2025

This integration of blockchain with gaming creates a seamless bridge between virtual and real-world economies, fostering new levels of immersion and interactivity. —Michele Zanello, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2011, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for blockchain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• butane
• campaign
• cetane