obstruction

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   Something that blocks a path, pipe, or passage, or the state of being blocked.

   Grammar: Can be countable (a physical object) or uncountable (the state).

   Patterns

   • an obstruction in something
   • cause an obstruction
   • clear an obstruction

   A fallen tree caused an obstruction on the road.

   The doctor removed an obstruction from the patient's intestine.

   The obstruction in the pipe was cleared with a special tool.

2. 2noununcountable

   The act of blocking or slowing down a process, especially in law or politics.

   Grammar: Often used in legal phrases like 'obstruction of justice'.

   Patterns

   • obstruction of justice
   • obstruction of a process

   He was charged with obstruction of justice for hiding evidence.

   The senator was accused of obstruction of the investigation.

3. 3nouncountable

   Something that blocks the view or makes it hard to see.

   Grammar: Common in descriptions of scenery or photography.

   Patterns

   • an obstruction to the view
   • visual obstruction

   The new building is an obstruction to our view of the mountains.

   Please remove any obstructions from the camera's line of sight.

Word forms

Common combinations

obstruction of justice

The charge of obstruction of justice carries a heavy penalty.

clear an obstruction

Workers cleared the obstruction from the drain.

cause an obstruction

Parked cars can cause an obstruction on narrow streets.

airway obstruction

The child was choking due to an airway obstruction.

Synonyms and how they differ

blockage

Often used for physical blockages in pipes or tubes; obstruction is more general and also used in legal contexts.

barrier

A barrier is usually a physical structure that stops movement; obstruction can be any obstacle, including abstract ones.

hindrance

Hindrance suggests something that slows progress rather than completely blocks it; obstruction implies a more complete block.

Opposites

Word family

obstruct verb

To block or get in the way of something.

obstructive adjective

Causing deliberate delays or blocks.

obstructionism noun

The practice of deliberately blocking progress, especially in politics.

Commonly confused: obstruction or obstacle?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “obstruction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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