roadblock

noun

road·​block ˈrōd-ˌbläk 

1

a

: a barricade often with traps or mines for holding up an enemy at a point on a road covered by fire

b

: a road barricade set up especially by law enforcement officers

2

: an obstruction in a road

3

: something that blocks progress or prevents accomplishment of an objective

roadblock transitive verb

Examples of roadblock in a Sentence

That's the one roadblock to the plan.

roadblocks on the path to success

Recent Examples on the Web

Columbia Business School professor Gernot Wagner said more Americans will ultimately adopt EVs despite the roadblocks that are hindering ownership. —Morgan Korn, ABC News, 3 May 2026

Hunter Schafer is also a possibility for Euphoria, though the show’s inconsistencies in writing for her character could be a roadblock. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 May 2026

And on smaller backroads, makeshift roadblocks have been put in place by settlers, blocking Palestinians’ access to land or natural resources, like spring water. —Molly Hunter, NBC news, 2 May 2026

Are there bureaucratic roadblocks to the immigration process? —Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for roadblock

• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock
• boardwalk
• catwalk
• cornstalk
• crosswalk
• deadlock
• feedstock
• fetlock
• flintlock
• goshawk

Kids Definition

roadblock

noun

road·​block -ˌbläk 

: a blocking of a road (as by police officers)

Legal Definition

roadblock

noun

road·​block

: a road barricade set up by law enforcement officers especially for the purpose of detecting criminal activity