1
a
: a temporary combination of parties in a legislative assembly
b
: a group of legislators who act together for some common purpose irrespective of party lines
2
a
: a combination of persons, groups, or nations forming a unit with a common interest or purpose
a bloc of voters
b
: a group of nations united by treaty or agreement for mutual support or joint action
3
: a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit : block
… seeking to buy and sell a large bloc of shares …—
Stuart Washington
Stuart WashingtonPotvin's outstanding bloc of games during his rookie campaign occurred during the 1993 playoffs.—Stan Fischler
Stan FischlerExamples of bloc in a Sentence
a voting bloc in the senate
a whole bloc of students got together to complain
Recent Examples on the Web
As voters approach the midterm primaries, Latino voters are emerging as a pivotal voting bloc that could be a difference-maker in the results.
—Steve Large, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Such violations have further raised concerns of the war spilling over into non-combatant nations and potentially NATO allies invoking the bloc's Article 5 collective defense clause.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
These were blocs that America Votes coalition members had focused on for years, with plenty of money and dedicated staff.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
What was supposed to be a solidarity visit to Caribbean nations by Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has instead ignited a diplomatic row that risks widening divisions within the 15-member Caribbean Community bloc known as CARICOM.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bloc
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Steve Large, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Such violations have further raised concerns of the war spilling over into non-combatant nations and potentially NATO allies invoking the bloc's Article 5 collective defense clause.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
These were blocs that America Votes coalition members had focused on for years, with plenty of money and dedicated staff.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 29 Apr. 2026
What was supposed to be a solidarity visit to Caribbean nations by Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has instead ignited a diplomatic row that risks widening divisions within the 15-member Caribbean Community bloc known as CARICOM.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bloc
Cite this Entry
“Bloc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloc. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bloc
noun
: a combination of persons, groups, or nations united by treaty, agreement, or common interest
a bloc of voters
Etymology
French, literally, "block"
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