gridlock
GRID-lok
/ˈɡrɪdlɒk/
A traffic jam affecting an entire network of intersecting streets; a situation where no progress can be made.
Strongly associated with urban environments and legislative bodies (like Congress) where opposing forces block each other.
The story behind the word. This word is surprisingly recent. It was coined in 1980 by Sam Schwartz, a New York City traffic engineer, to describe a situation where intersections are so clogged that no one can move in any direction.
Word relationships
- logjam: Logjam is more metaphorical and rural in origin, while gridlock is modern and urban.
- flow: Flow represents the smooth movement that gridlock stops.
Commonly confused with
- bottleneck: A bottleneck is a narrow point causing a slowdown; gridlock is a total system failure.
Word family
- gridlocked (adjective): stuck in a gridlock
Collocations
- total gridlock
- legislative gridlock
- traffic gridlock
Example sentences
- "The transit strike caused total gridlock in the city center during rush hour." Urban traffic
- "Legislative gridlock has prevented the passage of the budget for three months." Politics
Memory hook
Imagine a 'grid' of streets where every car is 'locked' in place by the car in front of it. A city map covered in red lines.
When not to use
Avoid using for a simple two-person argument; it implies a complex system is stuck.
Fun facts
- Before 1980, the word didn't exist in the English language; now it's used daily in political commentary.
Related words
Explore more words
impasse, congestion, bottleneck, obstruct, filibuster, Intransigent
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