noun

gridlock

/ˈɡrɪdlɒk/ · say it: GRID·lok

a standstill caused by opposing sides refusing to compromise

In Politics & Diplomacy

In more detail

1. (noun) a situation in which traffic cannot move because streets are completely blocked with vehicles

2. (noun) a situation in which progress is impossible because the people involved cannot agree

Examples

The accident caused gridlock on the highway during rush hour.
Political gridlock prevented Congress from passing new laws.

How to use gridlock

Gridlock originally referred to traffic jams but is now commonly used metaphorically for any negotiation, legislative, or organizational situation where conflicting parties cannot move forward. It implies a complete deadlock rather than minor delays, and often has a sense of frustration or urgency. The term is more vivid and emphatic than deadlock or impasse.

Common phrases

traffic gridlock
political gridlock
gridlock in Congress
break the gridlock
gridlock situation

Synonyms

deadlock · stalemate · impasse · standstill · congestion

Opposites

progress · agreement · resolution

Word family

gridlocked (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use gridlock for any type of traffic jam or disagreement, but it specifically means a complete blockage where nothing can move at all, not just slow progress or partial obstruction.

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