block booking: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Business, Technical
Quick answer
What does “block booking” mean?
The act of reserving a large number of seats, rooms, or tickets for an event or period at one time.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of reserving a large number of seats, rooms, or tickets for an event or period at one time.
A commercial practice where a buyer purchases a large quantity of goods, services, or time slots in advance, often at a discounted rate. In media, it can refer to buying multiple advertising slots or a package of programs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is used in both varieties in business, travel, and entertainment contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK English in public sector/education contexts (e.g., block booking of hotel rooms for school trips). In US English, perhaps more frequent in entertainment/media industry jargon.
Frequency
Low-frequency term in general discourse but standard within specific professional domains in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “block booking” in a Sentence
[Organization] made a block booking for [event/period].We offer a discount on block bookings of [number] or more.The [item] is subject to block booking arrangements.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “block booking” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The travel agent is trying to block-book the entire chalet for the ski week.
- Universities often block-book accommodation for incoming students.
American English
- The network decided to block-book the advertising slots for the entire season.
- We can block-book the meeting rooms every Tuesday for the quarter.
adverb
British English
- Tickets were purchased block-booking style to ensure the whole group sat together.
- Not applicable as standard usage.
American English
- The rooms were reserved block-booking, which simplified the billing.
- Not applicable as standard usage.
adjective
British English
- The block-booking discount made the theatre trip affordable.
- They inquired about the block-booking policy for the conference centre.
American English
- The block-booking rate for the hotel suites is 20% lower.
- A block-booking agreement was included in the contract.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Negotiating a block booking of hotel rooms for a quarterly sales conference to reduce costs.
Academic
The library has a block booking system for seminar rooms during exam periods.
Everyday
Our football club made a block booking for 30 train tickets to the away match.
Technical
The broadcaster secured the rights through a block booking of the studio's post-production facilities for six months.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “block booking”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “block booking”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “block booking”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'We will block book the tickets' is less standard; prefer 'make a block booking').
- Confusing with 'black booking' (a typographical error).
- Using for a single, large item (e.g., booking one villa; it implies multiple units).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for any service or facility available in multiple units over time: hotel rooms, advertising slots, theatre seats, conference rooms, equipment hire, etc.
Not always, but it is very common as an incentive for the buyer's commitment and the seller's guaranteed revenue. The discount is often negotiable.
They are similar. 'Group booking' often implies the users are one coordinated group (e.g., a tour). 'Block booking' emphasises the commercial act of reserving a large block of inventory, which may then be allocated to different individuals or subgroups.
Yes, historically in the film industry, 'block booking' and 'blind booking' were controversial practices where studios forced cinemas to book bundles of films, including less desirable ones, to get the major releases. This is now often illegal.
The act of reserving a large number of seats, rooms, or tickets for an event or period at one time.
Block booking is usually formal, business, technical in register.
Block booking: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblɒk ˈbʊkɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblɑːk ˈbʊkɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BLOCK of seats in a theatre being BOOKED all at once with one transaction.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCIAL TRANSACTION IS A SOLID MASS (booking in a large, indivisible chunk).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'block booking' LEAST likely to be used?