Definition of the word gridlock

The word "gridlock" originated in the 1970s to describe the traffic congestion that was plaguing cities in the United States. It was taken from the concept of gridlock in racing, where a driver gets stuck going in reverse, unable to move forward or backward. The term gained popularity in 1973, when journalist Tom Loftus used it to describe a traffic jam on the Long Island Expressway in New York. From there, it spread to describe not just traffic congestion but also any kind of stuck situation, such as a political impasse or a bureaucratic logjam. Today, "gridlock" is commonly used to describe situations where progress is stalled or stuck, often due to conflicting interests, opposing viewpoints, or inadequate resources.