gridlock

American  

[grid-lok] / ˈgrɪdˌlɒk /

noun

1. the stoppage of free vehicular movement in an urban area because key intersections are blocked by traffic.

2. the blocking of an intersection by vehicular traffic entering the intersection but unable to pass through it.

3. any situation in which nothing can move or proceed in any direction.

   a financial gridlock due to high interest rates.

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gridlock British  

/ ˈɡrɪdˌlɒk /

noun

1. obstruction of urban traffic caused by queues of vehicles forming across junctions and causing further queues to form in the intersecting streets

2. a point in a dispute at which no agreement can be reached; deadlock

   political gridlock

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verb

1. (tr) (of traffic) to block or obstruct (an area)

Other Word Forms

• gridlocked adjective

Etymology

Origin of gridlock

An Americanism dating back to 1975–80; grid + lock ¹

Example Sentences

“The scale of the outage and the sheer number of disabled traffic lights were the primary contributors to city-wide gridlock,” Waymo said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The AA has warned of gridlock on Friday as 24.4 million cars are expected to hit the roads.

From BBC

In Pacific Palisades there was chaos Jan. 7 as people in the foothills tried to flee, only to hit traffic gridlock.

From Los Angeles Times

Last week, we reported on a real estate tycoon who is bringing in flying taxis to try to fix gridlock in Florida.

From The Wall Street Journal

The combo of remote work and empty buildings downtown would mean fewer commuters causing gridlock, but also fewer clients for businesses in the area.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bottleneck
• congestion
• impasse
• logjam