Definition

Verb (transitive) To prevent access to an area by surrounding it with a physical barrier, such as a rope, tape, or line of people. It implies an official or formal act of sealing an area for safety, security, or investigative reasons.

Usage

This verb is used to describe the action of isolating a specific zone. It is often followed by a direct object (the area being sealed). * The police will cordon off the street after the accident. * Authorities cordoned off the old building due to structural instability. * Please cordon off the contaminated section of the lab immediately.

Examples

• The fire department cordoned off the block around the burning warehouse.
• For the film shoot, the production team had to cordon off a large part of the public park.
• After the discovery of the historical artifact, archaeologists cordoned off the dig site.

Advanced Usage

• Passive Voice: The phrasal verb is very commonly used in the passive voice.
  • The entire plaza was cordoned off for the presidential visit.
  • The crime scene has been cordoned off while the investigation proceeds.

Variants and Related Words

• Cordon (noun): A line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards preventing access to an area.
  • A security cordon was placed around the embassy.
• Cordon sanitaire (noun): A guarded line preventing anyone from leaving an area infected by a disease. Used both literally and figuratively.

Synonyms

• Seal off: To close an area completely.
• Rope off: To enclose an area with a rope (less formal than ).
• Tape off: To enclose an area with tape (often police tape).
• Barricade: To block or defend with a barrier.
• Isolate: To set apart from others.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Fence off: To separate an area by putting a fence around it.
  • They fenced off the pasture for the new horses.
• Block off: To obstruct passage to an area.
  • Construction crews blocked off the lane with cones.

Related Idioms

• Put/place a cordon around (something): A less common, more literal phrasing with the same meaning as the phrasal verb.
  • The military placed a cordon around the government district.

Verb

1. divide by means of a rope
   • The police roped off the area where the crime occurred