gridlock

[grid-lok]

noun

1. the stoppage of free vehicular movement in an urban area because key intersections are blocked by traffic.

2. the blocking of an intersection by vehicular traffic entering the intersection but unable to pass through it.

3. any situation in which nothing can move or proceed in any direction.

   a financial gridlock due to high interest rates.

gridlock

/ ˈɡrɪdˌlɒk /

noun

1. obstruction of urban traffic caused by queues of vehicles forming across junctions and causing further queues to form in the intersecting streets

2. a point in a dispute at which no agreement can be reached; deadlock

   political gridlock

verb

1. (tr) (of traffic) to block or obstruct (an area)

Other Word Forms

• gridlocked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gridlock¹

An Americanism dating back to 1975–80; grid + lock ¹

Example Sentences

"This will worsen polarisation and gridlock in Congress. And the ripple effect of that will mean emboldening this president and future presidents to act unilaterally without Congress."

Read more on BBC

The gridlock led S&P to announce a surprise sovereign ratings downgrade on France last month.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They argue they passed a "clean CR" — a temporary funding bill — and blame the gridlock on Democrats wielding the "filibuster," the 60-vote threshold required to get legislation through the 100-member Senate.

Read more on Barron's

With no end to the shutdown in sight, the gridlock is beginning to take a personal toll on lawmakers, who fly out of Washington most weekends to return to their home districts.

Read more on Barron's

It dawned on Washington this week that the unforeseen consequence of the prolonged shutdown gridlock is going to be more gridlock.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bottleneck 
• congestion 
• impasse 
• logjam