1
: a state of inaction or neutralization resulting from the opposition of equally powerful uncompromising persons or factions : standstill
the deadlock was broken with a key compromise
2
: a tie score
deadlock
verb
Examples of deadlock in a Sentence
City councilors reached a deadlock over the law.
His goal broke a 3–3 deadlock.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ceasefire talks ended in deadlock in July.
—
Emily Rose, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
On June 30, three months into the standoff, the Missouri Senate Insurance and Banking Committee called the two sides in for a hearing that broke months of deadlock and prompted new proposals from Anthem.
—Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
The parliament is sometimes ensnarled in legislative deadlock, and political candidates sling mud at their opponents during campaigns.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Similar crosscurrents produced a 4-4-1 deadlock at the Bank of England earlier this month, as four policymakers voted to keep rates steady, four voted to cut by a quarter point, and one voted to cut by a half point.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
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Emily Rose, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
On June 30, three months into the standoff, the Missouri Senate Insurance and Banking Committee called the two sides in for a hearing that broke months of deadlock and prompted new proposals from Anthem.
—Bram Sable-Smith, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
The parliament is sometimes ensnarled in legislative deadlock, and political candidates sling mud at their opponents during campaigns.
—Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025
Similar crosscurrents produced a 4-4-1 deadlock at the Bank of England earlier this month, as four policymakers voted to keep rates steady, four voted to cut by a quarter point, and one voted to cut by a half point.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Cite this Entry
“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadlock. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deadlock
noun
dead·lock
-ˌläk 
: a stopping of action because both sides in a struggle are equally powerful and neither will give in
deadlock
verb
Legal Definition
deadlock
noun
dead·lock
ˈded-ˌläk
: a state of inaction resulting from the opposition of equally powerful uncompromising persons or factions: as
a
: the state of a jury unable to agree on a verdict see also allen charge
b
: impasse
c
: a state in which corporate directors are unable to perform their functions because of shareholder voting
deadlock
verb
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