roadblock
noun, verb
roadblock is spelled R-O-A-D-B-L-O-C-K: 9 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 1.0 times per million words in written English, the 28,214th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, roadblock means “Something that blocks or obstructs a road” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of roadblock is roadblocks.
How many letters and syllables are in roadblock?
| Letters | 9: R-O-A-D-B-L-O-C-K |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1.0 times per million words; the 28,214th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is roadblock?
Roadblock appears 1.0 times per million words in written English, the 28,214th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce roadblock?
Roadblock has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-roadblock.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with roadblock
Also written: road block (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of roadblock
- roadblocks plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- roadblocking participle, present
- roadblocked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does roadblock mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Something that blocks or obstructs a road.
- 2
An obstacle or impediment.
to hit roadblocks
verb
- 1
informalTo prevent, to hinder.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Roadblock in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | barrage routier |
| German | Absperrung, Straßensperre , Hindernis, Wegversperrung |
| Spanish | barrera vial, barricada viaria, retén , barrera |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does roadblock come from?
From road + block.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).