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
There were no fights in Thursday’s final in Boston, but the two sides traded leads and finished in a 2-2 deadlock at the end of regulation time.
—
Carol Schram, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Inside the Lives of José and Kitty Menendez Before Their 1989 Murders
In 1996, three years after their first trial ended in a deadlock, the siblings were convicted of the first-degree murders and subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Lebanon is experiencing a long-running economic and financial crisis and a political deadlock that has left it without a fully functioning government for almost two years.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 22 Jan. 2025
The Biden administration has cast blame on both sides, though U.S. officials have more recently portrayed Hamas as the main party responsible for the deadlock.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
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Carol Schram, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Inside the Lives of José and Kitty Menendez Before Their 1989 Murders
In 1996, three years after their first trial ended in a deadlock, the siblings were convicted of the first-degree murders and subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Lebanon is experiencing a long-running economic and financial crisis and a political deadlock that has left it without a fully functioning government for almost two years.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 22 Jan. 2025
The Biden administration has cast blame on both sides, though U.S. officials have more recently portrayed Hamas as the main party responsible for the deadlock.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for deadlock
Cite this Entry
“Deadlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadlock. Accessed 3 Mar. 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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