blockade
noun
the isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships or troops to prevent entrance or exit.
blockades
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pluralof blockade.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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present tense formof blockade (3rd person singular).present tense
Used to describe things happening now or regularly.
blockadenounthe isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships or troops to prevent entrance or exit.
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.
With the Strait of Hormuz largely sealed by rival U.S and Iranian blockades, Riyadh shifted its exports from Hormuz, its main energy corridor, to the Red Sea coast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
On Friday, the government noted a dramatic drop in the number of blockades and meetings outside the country's lycees, where students -- most between 15 and 18 -- complete their high school education.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
Iran’s oil exports have been greatly reduced after the U.S. imposed naval blockades of Iranian ports, though it is unclear how long that will remain the case.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
When the capital came under siege by Islamist fighters, they managed to impose a partial blockade there and total blockades elsewhere including the city of Ségou.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
We were trying to outwit Death on this trip, rise above it, penetrate the blockades it put up between us and May.
From "Missing May" by Cynthia Rylant
