interception
n. C / Un. the act of stopping something or someone before they reach their destination. You use this when talking about catching a ball, a message, or a person on their way somewhere.
n. the act of seizing or stopping something in transit before it reaches its intended destination. Often refers to the capture of a pass in sports or the seizing of electronic communications.
The player made a brilliant interception to win the game.
Security forces confirmed the interception of a suspicious package before it could enter the government building.
The success of the mission depended entirely on the interception of the enemy's coded signals, allowing the fleet to adjust its course before the ambush was triggered.
Borrowed from Latin interceptiō; compare French interception.
Countable when referring to a specific instance, such as in sports; uncountable when referring to the general process of stopping transit.