Meanings
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1
noun
a pause or halt in an activity or process
A power failure caused a two-hour stoppage at the factory.
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2
noun
a blockage that prevents liquid, gas, or another substance from passing
The plumber cleared a stoppage in the kitchen drain.
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3
noun
an amount withheld or deducted from wages or another payment
After tax and pension stoppages, her take-home pay was lower than expected.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Formed from stop + the noun-forming suffix -age. The word first denoted an act or state of stopping and then specialized to blockages, work interruptions, and deductions that stop part of a payment.