clog

American  

[klog, klawg] / klɒg, klɔg /

verb (used with object)

clogged, clogging

1. to hinder or obstruct with thick or sticky matter; choke up.

   to clog a drain.

2. to crowd excessively, especially so that movement is impeded; overfill.

   Cars clogged the highway.

3. to encumber; hamper; hinder.

   Synonyms:

   fetter, trammel, impede

---

verb (used without object)

clogged, clogging

1. to become clogged, encumbered, or choked up.

2. to stick; stick together.

3. to do a clog dance.

noun

1. anything that impedes motion or action; an encumbrance; a hindrance.

2. a shoe or sandal with a thick sole of wood, cork, rubber, or the like.

3. a similar but lighter shoe worn in the clog dance.

4. a heavy block, as of wood, fastened to a person or beast to impede movement.

5. clog dance.

6. British Dialect. a thick piece of wood.

clog ¹ British  

/ klɒɡ /

verb

1. to obstruct or become obstructed with thick or sticky matter

2. (tr) to encumber; hinder; impede

3. (tr) to fasten a clog or impediment to (an animal, such as a horse)

4. (intr) to adhere or stick in a mass

5. slang (in soccer) to foul (an opponent)

---

noun

1. 1. any of various wooden or wooden-soled shoes

   2. ( as modifier )

      clog dance

2. a heavy block, esp of wood, fastened to the leg of a person or animal to impede motion

3. something that impedes motion or action; hindrance

4. slang to die

clog ² British  

/ klɒɡ /

verb

1. to use a photo-enabled mobile phone to take a photograph of (someone) and send it to a website without his or her knowledge or consent

---

Other Word Forms

• anticlogging adjective
• cloggily adverb
• clogginess noun
• clogging noun
• cloggy adjective
• overclog verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of clog

1350–1400; Middle English, of uncertain origin

Explanation

A clog is a blockage, or something that gets in the way. A clog in your kitchen sink might mean you have to call a plumber before you can wash your dishes. A clog obstructs water from flowing through pipes, and it can also be figurative, like a clog in your city's restaurant inspection system that makes it impossible for people to open new cafes. When clog is a verb, it means to cause such a hindrance. A completely different kind of clog is a heavy, wooden-soled shoe. In the 14th century, a clogge was a "lump of wood," and the verb first meant, "hinder with a block of wood."

Example Sentences

The Navy acknowledged there had been some issues, citing the vessel's leadership as saying "clog incidents are addressed promptly by trained damage control and engineering personnel, with minimal downtime".

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

The Navy acknowledged the reports of toilet problems in a statement last month, but cited ship leadership as saying that "clog incidents are addressed promptly by trained damage control and engineering personnel, with minimal downtime."

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

In 2010, Pella set the world record for the largest clog dance, with 2,600 people showing up to dance in wooden shoes.

From Slate • Oct. 22, 2025

Crocs, which sells its classic clog for about $50, said less-wealthy shoppers are paring back spending and in-person visits to stores.

From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 31, 2025

She quickly flushed the reddened paper towels, hoping they wouldn’t clog the toilet, then hurried down to the kitchen, pasting a smile over the anxiety she was feeling.

From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi

Related Words

• choke
• congest
• fill
• hamper
• impede
• obstruct
• plug
• seal