Blocked vs. Locked — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 20, 2024
Blocked refers to something being obstructed or impeded, preventing movement or flow, while locked means something is securely fastened or inaccessible, typically by a lock.
Difference Between Blocked and Locked
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Blocked is used to describe situations where an obstruction prevents movement, flow, or progress. This can apply to physical objects, such as a blocked road or a blocked artery, where something is physically in the way. It can also apply to abstract concepts, like a blocked idea or initiative, where external factors prevent advancement. Locked, on the other hand, emphasizes security or the prevention of access by a lock mechanism. When something is locked, it is deliberately made inaccessible or immovable to protect it, ensure privacy, or maintain safety. This term is often used for doors, safes, devices, and even software or digital accounts where a key, combination, or password is required to gain access.
The key difference lies in the intent and mechanism behind the obstruction. Blocking is often the result of an obstruction or barrier that may not be intentional and might simply be a physical constraint. Locking is an intentional act to secure something and usually involves a device or mechanism designed specifically for that purpose.
Blocked scenarios often require the removal or bypassing of the obstruction for resolution, such as clearing a blocked pathway or solving a problem that impedes progress. In contrast, locked situations typically require a key, code, or authorized access to unlock and grant access or mobility.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Having an obstruction that prevents movement or flow.
Being securely fastened or made inaccessible, typically by a lock.
Context
Can be physical (e.g., roads, pipes) or metaphorical (e.g., processes, ideas).
Primarily physical and relates to security or restricted access.
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Intent
Obstruction may not be intentional; can result from various constraints.
Involves an intentional act to secure or restrict access.
Mechanism
Caused by an obstruction or barrier, which may be physical or abstract.
Involves a locking device or mechanism, like a lock and key, combination, or password.
Resolution
Often requires removal or bypassing of the obstruction.
Typically requires a key, combination, or authorized access to unlock.
Compare with Definitions
Blocked
Having an obstruction that hinders movement or flow.
The road was blocked by fallen trees after the storm.
Locked
Fastened or secured with a lock, preventing access or use.
She locked her diary to keep her secrets safe.
Blocked
In computing, denied access or service, typically for security or policy reasons.
His IP address was blocked from the website due to suspicious activity.
Locked
In technology, protected or restricted by a password, PIN, or security measure.
Her phone was locked, requiring a fingerprint to access.
Blocked
Restricted or impeded by an obstacle.
The drainage was blocked, causing water to back up into the street.
Locked
Made inaccessible or immobile by a locking mechanism.
The car was locked, and he couldn't find his keys.
Blocked
Prevented from progressing or functioning.
The legislative bill was blocked in the senate, delaying its enactment.
Locked
Secured against theft, intrusion, or unauthorized access.
All confidential files were locked in the safe for security.
Blocked
A solid piece of a hard substance, such as wood, having one or more flat sides.
Locked
A device operated by a key, combination, or keycard and used, as on a door, for holding, closing, or securing.
Blocked
Such a piece used as a construction member or as a support.
Locked
A section of a waterway, such as a canal, closed off with gates, in which vessels in transit are raised or lowered by raising or lowering the water level of that section.
Blocked
Such a piece upon which chopping or cutting is done
A butcher's block.
Locked
A mechanism in a firearm for exploding the charge.
Blocked
Such a piece upon which persons are beheaded.
Locked
An interlocking or entanglement of elements or parts.
Blocked
One of a set of small wooden or plastic pieces, such as a cube, bar, or cylinder, used as a building toy.
Locked
(Sports) A hold in wrestling or self-defense that is secured on a part of an opponent's body.
Blocked
(Printing) A large amount of text.
Locked
A secure hold; control
The distributor has a lock on most of the market.
Blocked
(Sports) A starting block.
Locked
A sure thing; a certainty
His promotion is a lock.
Blocked
A stand from which articles are displayed and sold at an auction
Many priceless antiques went on the block.
Locked
To fasten the lock of
Close and lock a drawer.
Blocked
A mold or form on which an item is shaped or displayed
A hat block.
Locked
To shut or make secure with or as if with locks
Locked the house.
Blocked
A substance, such as wood or stone, that has been prepared for engraving.
Locked
To confine or exclude by or as if by means of a lock
Locked the dog in for the night.
Locked the criminal up in a cell.
Blocked
A pulley or a system of pulleys set in a casing.
Locked
To fix in place so that movement or escape is impossible; hold fast
The ship was locked in the ice through the winter. She felt that she had become locked into a binding agreement.
Blocked
An engine block.
Locked
To sight and follow (a moving target) automatically
Locked the enemy fighter in the gun sights.
Blocked
A bloc.
Locked
To aim (a weapon or other device) at a moving target so as to follow it automatically
"The pilot had locked his targeting radar on the slow-moving frigate" (Ed Magnuson).
Blocked
A set of like items, such as shares of stock, sold or handled as a unit.
Locked
To clasp or link firmly; intertwine or interlock
Locked arms and walked away.
Blocked
A group of four or more unseparated postage stamps forming a rectangle.
Locked
To bind in close struggle or battle
The two dogs were locked in combat.
Blocked
(Canadian) A group of townships in an unsurveyed area.
Locked
To equip (a waterway) with locks.
Blocked
A usually rectangular section of a city or town bounded on each side by consecutive streets.
Locked
To pass (a vessel) through a lock.
Blocked
A segment of a street bounded by consecutive cross streets and including its buildings and inhabitants.
Locked
To invest (funds) in such a way that they cannot easily be converted into cash.
Blocked
A large building divided into separate units, such as apartments.
Locked
To arrange or secure (an interest rate) for a loan.
Blocked
A length of railroad track controlled by signals.
Locked
To end the processing of (a magnetic tape or disk) in such a way as to deny access to its contents.
Blocked
Something that obstructs; an obstacle
The disabled car formed a block in traffic.
Locked
To protect (a file) from changes or deletion.
Blocked
(Sports) An act of bodily obstruction, as of a player or the ball.
Locked
To become fastened by or as if by means of a lock
The door locks automatically when shut.
Blocked
(Football) An act of legally using one's body to obstruct or move a defensive player so that a player in possession of the ball may advance downfield, pass, or otherwise execute an offensive play.
Locked
To become entangled or jammed; interlock.
Blocked
(Medicine) Interruption or obstruction of a physiological function
Nerve block.
Locked
To become rigid or immobile
The mechanism tends to lock in cold weather.
Blocked
(Psychology) A sudden cessation of speech or a thought process without an immediate observable cause, sometimes considered a consequence of repression. Also called mental block.
Locked
To pass through a lock or locks in a waterway.
Blocked
(Slang) The human head
Threatened to knock my block off.
Locked
Simple past tense and past participle of lock
Blocked
To stop or impede the passage of or movement through; obstruct
Block traffic.
Mud that blocked the pipe.
Locked
Having undergone locking; secured by a lock.
A locked door barred the way.
You can't delete a locked computer file.
Blocked
To prevent from happening, succeeding, or progressing
Blocked every attempt to reform the rules.
Locked
(Ireland) Very drunk.
Blocked
To shut out from view
A curtain blocking the stage.
Locked
Bound to a carrier.
Blocked
To stop the passage of (a motion or bill) in a legislative assembly.
Locked
Firmly fastened or secured against opening;
Windows and doors were all fast
A locked closet
Left the house properly secured
Blocked
(Sports) To prevent or slow the movement of (an opponent) by using one's body, as by making a block in football.
Blocked
(Sports) To stop or deflect (a ball or puck) by using one's body.
Blocked
(Medicine) To interrupt or obstruct the functioning of (a physiological process), especially by the use of drugs.
Blocked
(Psychology) To fail to remember.
Blocked
To support, strengthen, or retain in place by means of a block.
Blocked
To shape, mold, or form with or on a block
Block a hat.
Blocked
To indicate broadly without great detail; sketch. Often used with out
Block out a plan of action.
Block out stage movements.
Blocked
To run (trains) on a block system.
Blocked
To obstruct the movement of an opponent by using one's body.
Blocked
To stop or deflect a ball or puck by using one's body.
Blocked
To suffer a mental block. Often used with on
I blocked on his name.
Blocked
Obstructed, so that through movement or flow is prevented or impeded.
This road is blocked, so we must find another route.
Call a plumber to unclog the blocked drain.
Blocked
Unable to move owing to an obstruction.
The argument was over a blocked car in a driveway.
Blocked
(of a person, telephone number, IP address, etc.) Banned or barred from connecting or logging on.
Blocked users will be unable to access their accounts indefinitely.
The phone will reject calls from blocked numbers.
Blocked
(of a computer account or similar) Disabled or disconnected, so as to prevent access.
All of this user's accounts are now blocked.
Blocked
Drunk
Blocked
Simple past tense and past participle of block
Blocked
Closed to traffic.
Blocked
At a complete standstill because of opposition of two unrelenting forces or factions.
Blocked
Unusable because of some obstruction.
Blocked
Closed to traffic;
The repaving results in many blocked streets
Blocked
Completely obstructed or closed off;
The storm was responsible for many blocked roads and bridges
The drain was plugged
Common Curiosities
How can a blocked pathway be cleared?
Clearing a blocked pathway typically involves removing the physical obstruction or finding an alternative route if the blockage is immovable.
Is "blocked" always negative?
While often associated with unwanted obstructions, "blocked" can be neutral or positive, depending on context, such as blocking harmful UV rays.
Can a process be locked?
A process can be "locked" in a metaphorical sense, meaning it is fixed, secured, or unchangeable, often due to regulations or strict procedures.
Can digital platforms be locked?
Digital platforms can be "locked" in the sense of being password-protected or encrypted, requiring authorized access.
Can "locked" imply permanence?
"Locked" doesn't inherently imply permanence; it suggests a current state of inaccessibility that can be reversed by unlocking with the correct key, code, or method.
Can something be both blocked and locked?
Yes, an object or path can be both physically obstructed (blocked) and secured with a locking mechanism (locked), compounding the difficulty of access or movement.
What does "blocked" mean in social media context?
In social media, "blocked" means a user has been prevented from viewing another user's profile or interacting with them due to privacy settings or a direct action by the user.
What does it mean when a door is blocked, not locked?
A door that is blocked is obstructed by something that prevents it from opening, which may not involve a locking mechanism, while a locked door is secured by a lock and requires a key or code.
What are some common tools for unlocking?
Common tools for unlocking include keys, combinations, lock picks (in unauthorized or emergency situations), and passwords or biometric data for digital locks.
Is being locked out the same as being blocked?
Being locked out implies that access is denied due to a locking mechanism, while being blocked can refer to a wider range of obstructions, not necessarily involving locks.
Can weather cause roads to be blocked or locked?
Weather can cause roads to be "blocked" due to snow, floods, or fallen debris, but not "locked," as "locked" implies an intentional action to secure or prevent access.
How do you resolve a "locked" status in software or digital accounts?
Resolving a "locked" status typically involves entering the correct password, completing a security verification process, or contacting support to verify identity and regain access.
Can information be locked or blocked?
Information can be "locked" through encryption or password protection, making it inaccessible without authorization. It can be "blocked" by censorship or filtering systems, preventing it from being received or accessed.
Can a river be locked?
A river itself cannot be "locked" in the conventional sense, but its flow can be controlled or obstructed by locks in a canal system to manage water levels and navigation.
How does "blocked" apply to health and medical contexts?
In health and medical contexts, "blocked" can refer to obstructions within the body, such as blocked arteries, which impede normal function and may require medical intervention to clear.
What's the difference between a locked door and a door that won't open?
A locked door is secured by a locking mechanism and requires a key or code to open. A door that won't open may be jammed, broken, or obstructed, and not necessarily locked.
Can a mindset be blocked or locked?
A mindset can be described as "blocked" when it's closed off to new ideas or change. It's less common to describe a mindset as "locked," but it could be used to imply a very rigid, unchanging way of thinking.
Is a "blocked" call the same as a "locked" phone?
A "blocked" call refers to specific numbers being prevented from reaching you, whereas a "locked" phone refers to the device being secured, usually requiring a PIN, pattern, or biometric to access.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
