blockage
B2Neutral to formal; common in medical, technical, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
an obstruction that prevents movement or flow
Any physical or figurative barrier that stops normal progress, activity, or flow; can refer to physical objects, medical conditions, or abstract impediments.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a count noun (a blockage, several blockages). Implies something is actively causing a stoppage, not merely a passive state. Often implies a need for removal or clearing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slight preference in UK English for 'blockage' in plumbing contexts, while US might use 'clog' more informally.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of inconvenience, malfunction, or health concern. In medical contexts (e.g., arterial blockage), it is a serious term.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in UK English in everyday domestic contexts (e.g., sink blockage).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suffer from a [blockage]be caused by a [blockage]result in a [blockage]lead to a [blockage]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Writer's block(age) (a specific figurative use)”
- “A blockage in the system (figurative for bureaucratic or technical failure)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to delays in processes, supply chains, or communication (e.g., 'a blockage in the approval pipeline').
Academic
Used in medical, engineering, and sociological texts to describe physical or systemic obstructions.
Everyday
Commonly used for household issues like blocked drains/sinks, or traffic jams.
Technical
Precise term in medicine (e.g., coronary blockage), plumbing, and fluid dynamics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The fallen tree is blocking the road.
- Hair frequently blocks the shower drain.
American English
- The accident blocked the highway for hours.
- Too much grease will block the pipe.
adverb
British English
- The pipe was completely blocked up.
- The view was partially blocked by the new building.
American English
- The drain is totally blocked.
- The street was temporarily blocked off.
adjective
British English
- We have a blocked drain.
- He suffered from blocked sinuses.
American English
- Call a plumber for the blocked toilet.
- The artery was partially blocked.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a blockage in the sink.
- The road blockage caused a big traffic jam.
- We need a plumber to clear the blockage in the pipe.
- A blockage in the artery can be very dangerous.
- The negotiations stalled due to a political blockage.
- The scan revealed a partial blockage in his intestine.
- The bureaucratic blockage in the visa process caused significant delays for the research team.
- Coronary angiography is used to identify the precise location and severity of an arterial blockage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BLOCK of wood AGEing in a pipe – an old, solid BLOCK causing a block-AGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FLOW / AN IMPEDIMENT IS A PHYSICAL BLOCKAGE. Systems (body, traffic, pipes) are conceptualized as conduits; problems are things blocking the conduit.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with 'блокада' (blokada) which means 'siege' or 'blockade', a different concept.
- Do not confuse with 'препятствие' (prepyatstviye) which is a more general 'obstacle'. 'Blockage' is more specific to things that stop flow.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'blockage' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'there was blockage'). Correct: 'there was a blockage'.
- Confusing 'blockage' (the object causing the block) with 'blocking' (the action).
- Misspelling as 'blockade' which is a military term.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'blockage' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Primarily physical (pipe, artery), but also common in figurative use (creative blockage, bureaucratic blockage).
They are often synonyms. 'Blockage' strongly implies stopping a flow within a confined space (pipe, vein). 'Obstruction' is broader and can be any thing that blocks a path or progress.
No. 'Blockage' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to block'. The adjective is 'blocked'.
Almost always 'a blockage' (countable). It's rare to use it uncountably (e.g., 'there was blockage'). The countable form is standard.
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