bloc

[blok]

noun

1. a group of persons, businesses, etc., united for a particular purpose.

2. a group of legislators, usually of both major political parties, who vote together for some particular interest.

   the farm bloc.

3. a group of nations that share common interests and usually act in concert in international affairs.

   the Soviet bloc.

bloc

/ blɒk /

noun

1. a group of people or countries combined by a common interest or aim

   the Soviet bloc

Word History and Origins

Origin of bloc¹

From French, dating back to 1900–05; block

Word History and Origins

Origin of bloc¹

C20: from French: _block

Example Sentences

To protect EU steel makers, the bloc is proposing a 50% tariff from June next year on all imports from the rest of the world - including the UK.

Read more on BBC

The U.S. and Qatar sent a joint letter to the heads of European Union member states asking the bloc to repeal its corporate sustainability rules or scrap some of the provisions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Hungary is a member of the European Union, and Putin’s aircraft would need to cross the bloc’s airspace to reach the summit, something which is barred under current sanctions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 27-nation bloc has already blacklisted hundreds of tankers used by Russia to help circumvent restrictions on its lucrative crude exports.

Read more on Barron's

Airlangga expects trade with the bloc to increase by two and a half times over the next five years.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• association 
• faction