1. barriers across roads where travelers must pay a fee to pass through
2. points of control or restriction that must be passed through to proceed
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The highway has several tollgates where drivers must pay fees.
• Long lines formed at the tollgates during rush hour.
• Electronic payment systems have modernized many tollgates.
• The company faced regulatory tollgates before launching the product.
• Historical tollgates were often located at bridges and mountain passes.
• Budget constraints became tollgates in the project’s development.