blind

1 of 4

adjective

1
a(1)
(2)
: having less than ¹/₁₀ of normal vision in the more efficient eye when refractive defects are fully corrected by lenses
b
: of or relating to sightless persons
2
a
: unable or unwilling to discern or judge
blind to a lover's faults
b
: unquestioning
blind loyalty
3
a
: having no regard to rational discrimination, guidance, or restriction
blind choice
b
: lacking a directing or controlling consciousness
blind chance
4
a
: made or done without sight of certain objects or knowledge of certain facts that could serve for guidance or cause bias
a blind taste test
compare double-blind, single-blind
b
: having no knowledge of information that may cause bias during the course of an experiment or test
physicians blind to whether the test drug is administered
5
: defective: such as
a
: lacking a growing point or producing leaves instead of flowers
b
: lacking a complete or legible address
blind mail
6
a
: difficult to discern, make out, or discover
b
: hidden from sight : covered
blind seam
7
: having but one opening or outlet
blind sockets
8
: having no opening for light or passage : blank
blind wall
blindly adverb
blindness noun

blind

2 of 4

verb

blinded; blinding; blinds

transitive verb

1
a
: to make (a person or animal) permanently blind
The accident blinded him in one eye.
b
: to cause (a person or animal) to be unable to see for a short time : dazzle
Blinded by the glare of the headlights …, the apparition stood swaying for a moment before he perceived the man in the duster.F. Scott Fitzgerald
… the popular poaching method that uses bright lights to blind and immobilize deer …James Howard Kunstler
c
: to cause (someone) to be unable to think clearly or act reasonably
He was blinded by love.
… analysts and investors were too blinded by greed … to raise questions—much less look at the company's balance sheet.Bethany McLean
2
a
: to withhold light from
… such darkness blinds the sky, / That the black night receives a deeper dye.John Dryden
b
: hide, conceal
Alone, she sets out … on the ninety mile drive to Winnipegosis; but the snow has blinded the trail …The Overland Monthly (San Francisco, CA)
c
: to intentionally prevent (someone, such as a researcher or study participant) from seeing certain objects or knowing certain facts that could bias, influence, or interfere with the outcome or results of a research study, clinical trial, etc.
Studies that don't blind the participants, therapists, and assessors are at higher risk of bias; they are more likely to report an effect that differs from what can be expected in practice.Steven J. Kamper
If participants are not blinded, knowledge of group assignment may affect their behaviour in the trial and their responses to subjective outcome measures.Paul J. Karanicolas et al.

blind

3 of 4

noun

1
: something to hinder sight or keep out light: such as
a
: a window shutter
b
: a roller window shade
d
2
: a place of concealment
especially : a concealing enclosure from which one may shoot game or observe wildlife
3
a
: something put forward for the purpose of misleading : subterfuge
b
: a person who acts as a decoy or distraction

blind

4 of 4

adverb

1
: blindly: such as
a
: to the point of insensibility
blind drunk
b
: without seeing outside an airplane
fly blind
c
: without knowledge of certain facts that could serve for guidance or cause bias
tasted the wine blind
2
used as an intensive
was robbed blind

Examples of blind in a Sentence

Adjective our old blind cat kept walking into walls and furniture you'd have to be really blind to think that was a good idea Verb She was blinded as a child in a terrible fire. I was blinded by the sun as I came around the corner. He was blinded by love. Noun Some say the investigation is a blind to keep the public's attention off the governor. Adverb They had to fly blind through heavy smoke.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Read Next Love is blindsided: Charlotte reality TV contestants face cheating rumors February 28, 2024 5:00 AM Is love really blind? Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 Participants can learn blind contouring, create a self portrait, or create a traditional Hawaiian flower crown. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 The verdict: When the brands were revealed after our blind test, there was a gasp when tasters learned Toll House had placed last. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2024 Israel has long charged that the agency operates under Hamas’s influence, indoctrinates Gazans with anti-Israel propaganda, and turned a blind eye to Hamas military activity — all claims that UNRWA denies. Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Animals like Buddy, a geriatric, blind horse and Mario, a 600-pound pig with a foot injury, roam free among chickens, ducks and cows saved from abuse or slaughter. Hilary Howard, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2024 Ultimately, Neuralink’s ambition is to use implants to connect human brains to computers to help, for example, paralyzed people to control smartphones or computers, or blind people to regain sight. Clare Duffy, CNN, 20 Feb. 2024 Many disillusioned Venezuelans have emigrated, but some retain their blind devotion to Chavismo. Paula Ramón, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 To qualify, the care recipient must meet financial eligibility guidelines; be blind, disabled or age 65 and older; and meet eligibility requirements for full-scope Medi-Cal. Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2024
Verb
Emily Blunt's bling at the 2024 SAG Awards was blinding. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 The promise of millions or billions of dollars from a few parties is enough to blind even the best of public servants. Ed Hirs, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 He was blinded at four by smallpox and, as a non-believer in a believing time and place, lived alone in a cave. Elizabeth Barber, Harper's Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 The person who hit the teacher said they were been blinded by sunlight at the time of the crash, WVNews.com reported. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024 But Lena is blinded by her own attraction and gets carried away in the search, which leads them to cut school and visit anarchist bars, creating more tension in Fanny’s home. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2024 That was most evident in C. Milton Wright’s blinding pink warmup shirts. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 23 Jan. 2024 The game had been set for 1 p.m. yesterday, but heavy, blinding snow forced it to be pushed to a rare Monday afternoon kickoff. NBC News, 16 Jan. 2024 In recent years the U.S. has seen both China and Russia pursue new ways to jam satellites, intercept their feeds, blind them, shoot them down and even potentially grab them with a robotic arm to pull them out of their programmed orbits. Matthew Lee, arkansasonline.com, 15 Feb. 2024
Noun
Some even hunt scaup from stationary (permanent) box-style blinds along the East Coast, most notably in Chesapeake Bay. M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 8 Feb. 2024 To keep your home cooler through design tweaks, consider external shutters (which are more effective than curtains or blinds) and climbing plants to add shading. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2024 The lavish primary suite provides two walk-in closets with custom wardrobe systems, vaulted ceilings, Stark carpet, grasscloth wallpaper, custom electric blinds and sliding glass doors that open to the deck. David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024 Birders from around the world often follow the cranes to Nebraska, waiting patiently at dawn and dusk in viewing blinds located along the river. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 Ignition takes the big blind and multiplies it by 50 to come up with your reward. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 The microfiber rollers can get between the slats of your blinds or shutters to ensure an effective clean and get to every hard to reach spot. Kat Romero, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2024 When closed, the slats of shutters and blinds (often made from wood, vinyl, or metal) can also block the sun's rays. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024 Other fixes might include closing your blinds or curtains — that way, the visual clutter outside your window won't distract you as much. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024
Adverb
Docking can be called for in recipes where par- or blind-baking the crust is required. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 Forced to leave the police force after turning blind, Johnson Chong See-tun takes on cold cases the police can't solve. Men's Health, 29 Mar. 2022 The city told the newspaper that the recipients of the initial email were supposed to be blind-copied, meaning their names and emails would have been hidden from other recipients. Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2022 The lab in the bowels of the winery, where the team is blind-tasting vial after vial of intricate blends? Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2021 This kind of attitude is how our public-health establishment wound up blind-sided by an actual epidemic. WSJ, 6 Oct. 2021 The going out to watch stars, stumbling blind through the difficult door. Anthony Lan, The New Yorker, 5 July 2021 This year, the competition took place in Estes park, Colorado, where a professional tasting panel made of whisky, beer, and wine experts blind tasted each whisky using a 100-point scale system. Emily Price, Forbes, 15 June 2021 This beer was selected Best of Show at a blind-tasting event of over 40 Oktoberfest beers hosted by the Growler magazine in 2019. Michael Agnew, Star Tribune, 9 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German blint blind, Old English blandan to mix — more at blend

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adverb

1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blind was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near blind

Cite this Entry

“Blind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blind. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blind

1 of 4 adjective
1
a
b
: having less than ⅒ normal vision in the best eye even with the aid of glasses
2
: lacking in judgment or understanding
3
: made or done without the aid of sight or knowledge that could provide guidance or cause bias
a blind taste test
4
a
: having only one opening or outlet
a blind street
b
: having no opening
a blind wall
blindly adverb
blindness noun

blind

2 of 4 verb
1
: to make blind
2
: to make blind for a short time : dazzle
blinded by the lights
3
: to take judgment or understanding away from
blinded by love

blind

3 of 4 noun
1
: a device (as a window shade) to prevent sight or keep out light
2
: a hiding place for hunters or wildlife observers

blind

4 of 4 adverb
1
: without seeing outside of an airplane
fly blind
2
: without knowledge of facts that could guide or cause bias

Medical Definition

blind

1 of 2 adjective
1
a
: lacking or deficient in sight
especially : having less than ¹/₁₀ of normal vision in the more efficient eye when refractive defects are fully corrected by lenses
b
: of or relating to sightless persons
blind care
2
a
: designed to prevent participants from having information that could cause bias
a blind taste test
a blind clinical trial
see double-blind, single-blind
b
: having no knowledge of information that may cause bias during the course of an experiment or test
researchers blind to whether the investigational drug is administered
3
: having but one opening or outlet
the cecum is a blind pouch
blindly adverb
blindness noun

blind

2 of 2 transitive verb
1
: to make (a person or animal) permanently blind
2
: to intentionally prevent (someone, such as a researcher or study participant) from seeing certain objects or knowing certain facts that could bias, influence, or interfere with the outcome or results of a research study, clinical trial, etc.

More from Merriam-Webster on blind

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