stoppage

American  

[stop-ij] / ˈstɒp ɪdʒ /

noun

1. an act or instance of stopping; stop; cessation of activity.

   the stoppage of all work at the factory.

2. the state of being stopped.

   During the stoppage of bus service he drove to work.

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stoppage British  

/ ˈstɒpɪdʒ /

noun

1. the act of stopping or the state of being stopped

2. something that stops or blocks

3. a deduction of money, as from pay

4. an organized cessation of work, as during a strike

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Etymology

Origin of stoppage

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; stop, -age

Example Sentences

The work stoppage was first called on Feb. 17, after the staff union alleged that management had no intention to reach an agreement on the pending contract.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

Just when it looked like the evening's pantomime villain would be an unlikely match-winner, White was penalised for a lunge on Federico Vinas in stoppage time.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

The stoppage in Qatar means the world is losing nearly 12 billion cubic feet a day of natural-gas supplies, analysts say—about one-fifth of global LNG supplies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Without an agreement, that opened a period of status quo, where the previous CBA remained in place but either side could engage in a work stoppage.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

But “standard” by then included some remarkable safety technology, like an antilock braking system, which allowed for swifter stoppage time and had first been developed in the 1960s.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• blockage
• closure
• interruption
• layoff
• lockout
• shutdown
• walkout