1. a traffic jam in which no vehicles can move because intersections are blocked
2. a situation in which no progress can be made because of disagreement or deadlock
Usage: often political

1. to cause or experience a complete halt in movement or progress

Examples

• The accident caused gridlock throughout downtown.
• Rush hour gridlock made everyone late for work.
• Political gridlock prevented the budget from passing.
• The negotiations reached complete gridlock over salary issues.
• Construction will gridlock traffic for weeks.
• The storm gridlocked the entire transportation system.
• Congressional gridlock has stalled important legislation.