deadlock
DED-lok
/ˈdedlɒk/
A situation, typically one involving opposing parties, in which no progress can be made.
Often implies a 50/50 split or a tie that cannot be broken, such as a deadlocked jury.
The story behind the word. Originally, a 'dead lock' was a type of lock that could only be opened with a key, having no spring mechanism. It eventually came to mean a situation that is 'locked' and 'dead' (unmoving).
Word relationships
- impasse: Deadlock is more common in legal and labor contexts.
- resolution: A resolution is the final settling of the conflict that was deadlocked.
Commonly confused with
- stalemate: Stalemate is a draw; deadlock is a stop that might still be broken with enough effort.
Word family
- deadlocked (adjective): unable to move or progress
Collocations
- break the deadlock
- deadlocked jury
- reach a deadlock
Example sentences
- "The jury was in a deadlock, unable to reach a unanimous verdict after four days of deliberation." Legal proceedings
- "The strike continues as the deadlock between the union and management remains unbroken." Labor disputes
Memory hook
A 'dead' person cannot move, and a 'lock' keeps things shut. Together, they mean a total lack of movement. A heavy iron lock with no key.
When not to use
Do not use for a 'slowdown'; use only when progress has completely stopped.
Fun facts
- In computing, a 'deadlock' occurs when two computer programs are each waiting for the other to finish, so neither ever does.
Explore more words
impasse, zero-sum, confrontation, stagnation, bottleneck, stall
Also appears in
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