congestion

American  

[kuhn-jes-chuhn] / kənˈdʒɛs tʃən /

noun

congestions plural

1. overcrowding; clogging.

   severe traffic congestion.

2. an excessive or abnormal accumulation of blood or other fluid in a body part or blood vessel.

   pulmonary congestion.

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congestion British  

/ kənˈdʒɛstʃən /

noun

1. the state of being overcrowded, esp with with traffic or people

2. the state of being overloaded or clogged with blood

3. the state of being blocked with mucus

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncongestion
  noun
• precongestion
  noun
• supercongestion
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• congestions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of congestion

From the Latin word congestiō, dating back to 1585–95. See congest, -ion

Explanation

When a driver complains about congestion, she's talking about the cars that are backed up on the highway. When your sneezing friend complains about congestion, he's talking about his stuffed-up nose. Use the noun congestion to talk about over-crowding; this comes up most often when people talk about traffic. If there's unexpected congestion on your route to work, you'll be late. You might also use the word to describe a crush of people: "The congestion in the subway was terrible — we were packed like sardines in there." The medical kind of congestion describes a build up of fluid, especially the kind you feel in your sinuses when you have a bad cold.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

congestion congestions

More congestion means that cars travel less quickly through cities than they have in recent decades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

That allowed the heat carrying vibrations to travel farther through the material, much like easing congestion on a busy highway, leading to much more efficient heat conduction in the direction of the electric field.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026

While officials say the project is intended to reduce traffic congestion and ease pressure on local roads, residents at a recent community meeting focused more on the immediate impact and communication.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

Ryanair blamed border delays, while the airport said it had been experiencing congestion linked to "additional processing requirements", though neither directly said EES was responsible.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

The other end he slings through a bent strut wedged into the congestion of timber, stone, and plaster that has become their ceiling.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

While traffic volumes have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, the group said, congestions is expected to continue to build in the region, even with transit investments, because of project growth of 1.3 million people by 2045.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 10, 2023

The Washington Department of Transportation advised drivers to expect intermittent heavy congestions in the Seattle area Thursday evening and Friday due to temporary closures of the freeway system due to his visit.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 21, 2022

The restrictions as well as port congestions and adverse weather contributed to a deterioration in vendor performance.

From Reuters ● Feb. 1, 2022

China's export and import both rose last month despite delta demand concerns and severe port congestions.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 7, 2021

Here the seeds are introduced in the making of curry powder, and are compounded to form a stimulating liniment; likewise a warming plaster for quickening the sluggish congestions of indolent parts.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by Fernie, William Thomas

Related Words

• bottleneck
• overpopulation
• traffic jam