congestion
/kənˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃən/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.66 in modern English
13
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The hindrance or blockage of the passage of something, for example a fluid, mixture, traffic, people, etc. (due to an excess of this or due to a partial or complete obstruction), resulting in overfilling or overcrowding.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
The hindrance or blockage of the passage of something, for example a fluid, mixture, traffic, people, etc. (due to an excess of this or due to a partial or complete obstruction), resulting in overfilling or overcrowding.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "network congestion"
- "arterial congestion"
- "venous congestion"
- "congestion of the lungs"
- "traffic congestion"
- "The crossing caused serious congestion with long traffic hold-ups, and had been a bone of contention between the local authorities and the railway for over eighty years. It was controlled from Fletton Road Junction Signalbox (removed at the same time) and, until a wheel was installed in 1920, required two gatemen on each turn of duty."
Etymology
From late Middle English congestioun, from Old French [Term?], from Latin congestĭō (“heap, accumulation”), from congerō (“to bring together, accumulate, heap up”), formed by the root gerō (“to carry”) and the prefix con-.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *h₂eǵ-, congestioun, congestĭō
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /kənˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃən/
- British English: /kənˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃən/