roadblock

roadblock — noun

1. a barrier placed across a road by police or soldiers that stops vehicles so they

1.nounB1
Definition

a barrier placed across a road by police or soldiers that stops vehicles so they can check who is inside or what the vehicles are carrying.

Example

The police set up a roadblock near the highway exit to look for drunk drivers.

set up a roadblock + purpose

Hiro's van was stopped at a military roadblock outside the city centre.

Common collocations
  • set up a roadblock
  • stop at a roadblock
  • remove a roadblock
  • military roadblock
  • police roadblock
Synonyms
  • barricade

    a broader term that can be any makeshift barrier, not only on roads

  • checkpoint

    a controlled stopping point where documents are checked, often more permanent than a roadblock

  • barrier

    a general term for anything that blocks movement, not specific to police operations

Antonyms

Usage Note

Often combined with verbs like 'set up', 'remove', or 'stop at'. The purpose of the roadblock is usually stated after 'to' or 'for'.

Common Mistakes

The police built a roadblock on the street.
The police set up a roadblock on the street.
'set up' is the natural verb for roadblocks, not 'build'.

2. something that stops progress or makes it very difficult to achieve a goal — for

2.nounB2
Definition

something that stops progress or makes it very difficult to achieve a goal — for example, a lack of money delaying a building project, or a disagreement blocking a business deal.

Example

A lack of funding is the biggest roadblock to completing the hospital project.

roadblock to + noun phrase

Diya's visa application hit a roadblock when the rules changed suddenly.

hit a roadblock

Common collocations
  • hit a roadblock
  • face a roadblock
  • roadblock to progress
  • overcome a roadblock
  • biggest roadblock
Synonyms
  • obstacle

    a more general term for anything in the way; less dramatic than 'roadblock'

  • hurdle

    suggests something that can be jumped over or overcome with effort

  • stumbling block

    an unexpected problem that trips up progress; slightly informal

Antonyms
  • aid

    something that actively helps progress

  • catalyst

    something that speeds up progress

  • boost

    something that gives progress a push forward

Grammar Patterns

roadblock to + noun phrase

Usage Note

Common in business and project-management contexts. Frequently paired with 'hit', 'face', or 'overcome'. The preposition 'to' introduces the goal that is blocked.

Common Mistakes

We had a roadblock yesterday' (without explaining the context).
We hit a roadblock in the negotiations yesterday.
clarify what the roadblock is blocking.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A roadblock is specifically set up by police or the military to stop and inspect traffic, often temporarily. A barricade is a broader term for any makeshift barrier — protesters might build a barricade from rubbish bins, but only authorities set up roadblocks. A checkpoint is a controlled stopping point where documents or vehicles are examined; checkpoints are often more permanent than roadblocks and may not fully block the road. A barrier is the most general word, covering any physical structure that prevents movement, from a concrete wall to a wooden fence. For example: 'The police set up a roadblock to catch the suspect' suggests a short-term stop-and-search, whereas 'soldiers manned a checkpoint at the border' implies ongoing identity checks.

roadblock ↗barricade ↗checkpointbarrier ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • police roadblock
  • military roadblock
  • funding roadblock
  • legal roadblock
  • bureaucratic roadblock

Phrases

  • set up a roadblock
  • remove a roadblock
  • encounter a roadblock
  • run into a roadblock
  • hit a roadblock
  • face a roadblock
  • overcome a roadblock

Prepositions

  • at a roadblock
  • through a roadblock
  • roadblock to progress
  • roadblock for

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchEnglish

Roadblock is a compound noun made from 'road' (a path for vehicles, from Old English rad 'riding expedition') and 'block' (an obstacle, from Old French bloc 'a piece of wood'). The word first appeared in the early 1900s, originally describing physical barriers used by the military or police in wartime or civil unrest.