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block grant
noun
: an unrestricted grant made by the U.S. federal government to state and local governments to be used at their discretion to pay especially for social services that were formerly paid for through specific federal programs
Examples of block grant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ranges depended on factors like the discretionary block grant and funding for transitional kindergarten.
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Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
One proposal causing concern among some NIH supporters would give at least some of the NIH budget directly to states through block grants, bypassing the agency's intensive peer-review system.
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Rob Stein, NPR, 26 Nov. 2024
What To Know In addition to these work requirements, Republicans are looking to transition Medicaid to a block grant system, which would provide federal funds for specific programs and shift financial responsibility to the states.
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John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
Related, federal grants should be delivered as block grants so state officials have the final say in exactly how a grant is used.
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Adam A. Millsap, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1966, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near block grant
Cite this Entry
“Block grant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/block%20grant. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Legal Definition
block grant
noun
: an unrestricted federal grant
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