When the police or the army put a roadblock across a road, they stop all the traffic going through, for example because they are looking for a criminal.
The city police set up roadblocks to check passing vehicles.
Synonyms: barrier, block, barricade More Synonyms of roadblock
roadblock in British English
(ˈrəʊdˌblɒk)
noun
1.
a barrier set up across a road by the police or military, in order to stop a fugitive, inspect traffic, etc
2.
a difficulty or obstacle to progress
roadblock in American English
(ˈroʊdˌblɑk)
noun
1.
an obstruction in a road
; specif.,
a. Military
a blockade of logs, wire, cement, etc., for holding up enemy vehicles at a point covered by heavy fire
b.
a blockade, often of patrol cars, set up by police, as for stopping a fugitive, inspecting vehicles, etc.
2.
any hindrance or obstacle in the way of an objective
verb transitive
3.
to obstruct with a roadblock
Examples of 'roadblock' in a sentence
roadblock
You could make a longer list of the roadblocks they have set up against progress.
The Sun (2012)
The military threw up roadblocks and searched vehicles.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The nightly sweeps of raids and arrests are reinforced by daytime roadblocks and identity checks.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Police set up roadblocks across the city and said that a number of people had been arrested.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Others seized airports and set up roadblocks.
The Sun (2014)
Drivers say that they have to pass numerous roadblocks each day set up by police to demand bribes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Police set up roadblocks in the village to ask drivers whether they had been in the area last week.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
India's growth story could hit a roadblock if our youth remain out of schools.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The city 's roadblocks and machineguns vanished.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We'll put up roadblocks if they come.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Anywhere you go, you risk being stopped at a roadblock.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Don't put up roadblocks but try to find solutions.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The Government plans to give all forces the power to set up such roadblocks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Police manned roadblocks and checkpoints and foreigners were told to stay indoors after threats against today's independence day party.
The Sun (2008)
They have ringed the city with roadblocks, and now appear to be trying to establish a wider zone of control.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They were setting up roadblocks.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Residents set up similar roadblocks.
Charles Glass The Tribes Triumphant (2006)
But I was stopped there by a military roadblock.
Magnouloux, Bernard Travels with Rosinante (1990)
The emphasis there will be on police action - roadblocks, security checks and controls on militias and weapons.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
roadblock
British English: roadblock /ˈrəʊdˌblɒk/ NOUN
When the police or the army put a roadblock across a road, they stop all the traffic going through, for example because they are looking for a criminal.
The city police set up roadblocks to check passing vehicles.
American English: roadblock
Arabic: حَاجِز
Brazilian Portuguese: barricada
Chinese: 路障
Croatian: blokada ceste
Czech: zátaras silniční
Danish: vejspærring
Dutch: wegversperring
European Spanish: control de carreteras
Finnish: tiesulku
French: barrage routier
German: Straßensperre
Greek: οδόφραγμα
Italian: blocco stradale
Japanese: 道路封鎖
Korean: 노상 장애물
Norwegian: veisperring
Polish: blokada drogi
European Portuguese: barricada
Romanian: punct de control
Russian: дорожная застава
Latin American Spanish: control de carreteras
Swedish: vägspärr
Thai: สิ่งกีดขวาง
Turkish: çevirme trafik
Ukrainian: блокпост
Vietnamese: rào chắn đường
Chinese translation of 'roadblock'
roadblock
(ˈrəudblɔk)
n(c)
路障 (lùzhàng)
(noun)
Definition
a barrier set up across a road by the police or military, in order to stop and check vehicles
Police set up roadblocks.
Synonyms
barrier
The demonstrators broke through the heavy police barriers.
block
a block to peace
barricade
Large areas of the city have been closed off by barricades.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of barricade
Definition
a barrier, esp. one erected hastily for defence
Large areas of the city have been closed off by barricades.