blockade-runner: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Historical, Nautical, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “blockade-runner” mean?
A ship or person that attempts to pass through a military blockade, typically to deliver supplies or goods to a blockaded area.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A ship or person that attempts to pass through a military blockade, typically to deliver supplies or goods to a blockaded area.
By extension, any person, vehicle, or organization that circumvents restrictions, embargoes, or official barriers, often in a daring or clandestine manner.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in American English due to the historical significance of Union blockades during the Civil War. In British English, it is primarily a historical term but understood in context.
Connotations
In US usage, it can evoke specific historical imagery (e.g., steamers evading Union ships). In UK usage, it may be more generalized or associated with historical naval conflicts like the Napoleonic Wars.
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects, primarily found in historical, military, or economic contexts discussing embargo evasion.
Grammar
How to Use “blockade-runner” in a Sentence
[The/Adj] blockade-runner [verb, e.g., slipped, was captured, delivered]To [verb, e.g., serve as, become] a blockade-runnerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blockade-runner” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The daring blockade-runner slipped past the Royal Navy's cordon under cover of fog.
- He made his fortune as a blockade-runner during the war, bringing in vital medical supplies.
American English
- The Confederate blockade-runner, a sleek steamer, was captured off the coast of Charleston.
- Modern sanctions have created a new breed of digital blockade-runners.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically for companies finding loopholes in trade sanctions.
Academic
In historical or political science texts discussing naval warfare or economic warfare.
Everyday
Rare. Possibly used metaphorically for someone dodging rules or avoiding a cordon.
Technical
In military history or international law discussing the law of naval blockade.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blockade-runner”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blockade-runner”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blockade-runner”
- Using 'blockade-runner' for a person who simply runs quickly in a blocked area (wrong context).
- Spelling as 'blockade runner' (open compound) is also acceptable, but hyphenated is common for the noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes, especially historically. However, it can be applied metaphorically to any agent (person, company, aircraft, vehicle) that circumvents a blockade or similar restriction.
A smuggler evades customs laws and taxes, often in peacetime. A blockade-runner specifically evades a military blockade, which is an act of war. All blockade-runners are, in a sense, smugglers, but not all smugglers are blockade-runners.
No, it is solely a noun. The related verb phrase is 'to run a blockade'.
The most famous examples are from the American Civil War (1861-1865), where Confederate ships ran the Union blockade to export cotton and import weapons and supplies from Europe.
A ship or person that attempts to pass through a military blockade, typically to deliver supplies or goods to a blockaded area.
Blockade-runner is usually formal, historical, nautical, journalistic in register.
Blockade-runner: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblɒkˈeɪd ˌrʌn.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblɑːˈkeɪd ˌrʌn.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To play the blockade-runner”
- “A blockade-runner's luck”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BLOCK of ADE (lemonade) trying to RUN fast past a barrier to deliver its cargo.
Conceptual Metaphor
CIRCUMVENTION IS A DANGEROUS JOURNEY; RESTRICTIONS ARE PHYSICAL BARRIERS.
Practice
Quiz
In a modern business context, calling a firm a 'blockade-runner' most likely implies it: