bloc
Americannoun
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a group of persons, businesses, etc., united for a particular purpose.
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a group of legislators, usually of both major political parties, who vote together for some particular interest.
the farm bloc.
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a group of nations that share common interests and usually act in concert in international affairs.
the Soviet bloc.
noun
Etymology
Origin of bloc
From French, dating back to 1900–05; see origin at block
Explanation
A group that unites, especially for a political or economic purpose, is a bloc. The European Union is a bloc of countries that share common economic, social, and security policies. A trade or political bloc is formed when countries (or states) unite around a common goal. The E.U., for example, sometimes operates almost as a single nation, especially when it comes to trading goods and services with other countries around the world. A voting bloc is a category of voters who tend to cast their ballots the same way; the "religious right" is one example of a voting bloc. The term comes from the French bloc, or "group."
Vocabulary lists containing bloc
Human Geography - Middle School
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Human Geography - High School
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Eastern Europe - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I would like a runoff against the centrist bloc," said the 57-year-old politician, who in the last two presidential elections made it to the second round.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
But the same can’t be said for her dominant Morena bloc, here in Sinaloa and throughout the country.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
The bloc now gets around 60% of its LNG from the U.S., though its share of total natural-gas imports—including piped gas—is lower, at about 25%, according to the European Commission.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026
The sweeping accord also means the quota of Australian beef allowed into the bloc will increase more than 10 times the current level over the next decade.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
George Kisevalter, a CIA agent who had worked in the Soviet bloc, managed to determine the Russian man's identity from clues in the doctored photograph.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
