cordon
C1Formal; most common in official, news, and security contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A line or ring of people, vehicles, or objects preventing access to an area, typically for security or public safety reasons.
1) A decorative cord or braid, especially on a uniform. 2) In culinary contexts, 'Cordon Bleu' refers to a high standard of cooking. 3) In medicine, 'cordon sanitaire' is a quarantine barrier to prevent disease spread.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, often used with 'police', 'security', or 'sanitary'. As a verb, always used with a particle ('off') to indicate the act of establishing such a line.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The verb-particle construction 'cordon off' is standard in both.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Slightly more prevalent in UK news reports concerning public order.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in news media; rare in casual conversation in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to cordon [something] offa cordon of [people/objects]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cordon bleu (cookery)”
- “cordon sanitaire (politics/medicine)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially used in crisis management (e.g., 'a cordon around the affected facility').
Academic
Used in political science, history, and epidemiology (e.g., 'establishing a cordon sanitaire').
Everyday
Primarily encountered in news reports about incidents, protests, or disasters.
Technical
Used in security, policing, public health, and military contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Police have cordoned off the high street following a gas leak.
- The council cordoned off the unsafe playground equipment.
American English
- Authorities immediately cordoned off the area around the courthouse.
- They cordoned off the crime scene with yellow tape.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not typically used as a standalone adjective.
American English
- Not typically used as a standalone adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A police cordon is around the building.
- They had to cordon off the street because of the fire.
- A cordon of officers held back the crowd while the ambulance arrived.
- The government's policy was described as an economic cordon sanitaire, isolating the struggling region.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CORD (rope) being used to create a perimeter that is turned ON (activated) – a CORD-ON.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECURITY IS A CONTAINER; AUTHORITY IS A BOUNDARY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кордон' meaning a remote border post or station; the English term is more specific to a temporary, encircling barrier.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cordon' without 'off' as a verb (e.g., 'They cordoned the area' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'cordon' with 'curtain' (e.g., 'iron curtain' is metaphorical, not a physical cordon).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'cordon bleu' correctly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A cordon is typically a line of people or objects forming a perimeter to control access. A barricade is a more solid, physical barrier designed to block passage completely, often improvised.
No, as a verb it requires the particle 'off' (to cordon off). It is a phrasal verb meaning to enclose or seal an area.
It is a metaphor for the diplomatic isolation of a nation or political group considered dangerous or undesirable, to prevent the spread of its influence.
Yes, when referring to the cooking school or the standard of cuisine, it is a proper noun and is capitalized (Le Cordon Bleu). When used generically (e.g., 'cordon bleu chef'), it is often not.