# blockade

/ˌbɫɑˈkeɪd/ (US) · /blɒkˈeɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blockade
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. military/naval isolation

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the use of ships or soldiers to block a port or city so that nothing can go in or out.

For teachers: the physical isolation of a location, particularly a port, by hostile forces to prevent the passage of commerce and supplies.

- The navy set up a blockade to stop supplies from reaching the enemy port.
- The government maintained a strict naval blockade for several months, effectively crippling the city's economy by preventing the export of local goods.

Usage: Often used with the verbs 'impose', 'lift', or 'break'.

### 2. medical/biological inhibition

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the act of stopping a chemical or nerve signal from working in the body.

For teachers: the inhibition of the physiological activity of a chemical messenger or its receptor, often through the use of drugs.

- The doctor used a nerve blockade to stop the patient from feeling pain during the procedure.
- The pharmacological blockade of beta-adrenergic receptors is a standard treatment for managing certain cardiovascular conditions.

Usage: Commonly appears in the context of 'receptor blockade' or 'nerve blockade'.

## Examples

- The navy set up a blockade to stop ships from entering.
- The city faced severe food shortages after the military blockade cut off all major supply routes for three months.
- The pharmacological blockade of specific receptors allows researchers to observe how the nervous system functions when certain chemical signals are completely absent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.