What does stonewall mean?
To stonewall means to resist or obstruct a process, especially by refusing to answer questions, disclose information, or negotiate meaningfully. The expression is principally used in British and Australian English and often has a critical political connotation: it suggests an organized barrier intended to delay investigation or prevent agreement. A stonewall can also mean the act of obstruction itself, while the older physical sense refers to a wall made of stone. Related forms include the past tense and past participle “stonewalled” and the gerund or noun “stonewalling.” The verb is often more figurative than literal, describing conduct rather than an outright refusal to participate. Its best-known historical association is with the Stonewall uprising of 1969, a turning point in the gay liberation movement; equality campaigns subsequently adopted Stonewall as their name. Consequently, the word now carries additional historical resonance concerning LGBT rights, although its ordinary meaning remains that of deliberate obstruction.
To deliberately obstruct or refuse to participate in a discussion, investigation, negotiation, or decision-making process.
"Several witnesses said that officials had stonewalled the investigation."
Chiefly British and Australian English; informal and often critical, particularly in political and institutional contexts.
An act or instance of obstructing progress, especially by refusing to answer questions or cooperate in negotiations.
"Journalists encountered a stonewall when they requested the missing records."
Common in British and Australian English; also used more broadly for a persistent obstruction.
A wall built or faced with stone.
"She climbed over the low stonewall into the adjoining field."
This physical sense is less common in modern use and is often expressed as the two-word phrase “stone wall.”
The plural is used for individual walls or separate acts of obstruction. The figurative noun is also commonly uncountable in phrases such as “a campaign of stonewalling.”
"Several stonewalls divide the fields along the valley."
A barrier of stone became a metaphor for political resistance, and the name Stonewall later became a landmark in the history of LGBT rights.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stonewall come from?
The compound combines the Old English words stān, meaning “stone,” with wall, which came through Old English from Latin vallum, a defensive rampart or wall. The combination originally referred to a wall made of stone and was later extended to actions that impede progress, using the physical barrier as a metaphor. Its best-known modern historical association comes from the 1969 Stonewall uprising, after which the name became closely linked with LGBT rights and equality campaigns.
Related word forms
How stonewall is actually used
The verb is informal and strongly associated with political or institutional obstruction. In British and Australian English it commonly describes a person or body refusing to answer questions or negotiate in good faith. The physical-wall noun is now less common than the figurative noun.
Easily confused with stonewall
A physical barrier built from stone is normally written as two words, whereas the single-word form is especially common for the figurative verb meaning to obstruct a process.