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
c
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
blinded; blinding; blinds
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
F. Scott Fitzgerald… the popular poaching method that uses bright lights to blind and immobilize deer …—James Howard Kunstler
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
Bethany McLean2
a
: to withhold light from
… such darkness blinds the sky, / That the black night receives a deeper dye.—John Dryden
John Dryden
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
Steven J. KamperIf 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.
Paul J. Karanicolas et al.1
: something to hinder sight or keep out light: such as
a
: a window shutter
b
: a roller window shade
c
d
: blinder
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
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
Synonyms
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
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, Jones had most recently produced the 2014 documentary Keep on Keepin’ On, about jazz trumpeter Clark Terry and his mentorship of blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin.
—Jennifer Frederick, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024
Tom Wilkie, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Most people take their cue about how Europe is doing from the auto industry and so they may be blinded to this turn.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2024
Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Special dusters are made specifically for blinds, and many fabric curtains and drapes are machine washable.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for blind 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
How can so many in our government have turned a blind eye to this catastrophe?
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 5 Nov. 2024
Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, Jones had most recently produced the 2014 documentary Keep on Keepin’ On, about jazz trumpeter Clark Terry and his mentorship of blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin.
—Jennifer Frederick, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
This fragmented approach hampers efficiency and also blinds us to potential issues.
—Tom Wilkie, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Most people take their cue about how Europe is doing from the auto industry and so they may be blinded to this turn.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
Movie gods, hear our prayer: may cinematic murderers never remember to shut their blinds, amen.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Special dusters are made specifically for blinds, and many fabric curtains and drapes are machine washable.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 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
See all Example Sentences for blind
Dictionary Entries Near blind
Cite this Entry
“Blind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blind. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blind
1 of 4 adjective1
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
blind
2 of 4 verb1
: 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 noun1
: 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 adverb1
: 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 adjective1
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
blind
2 of 2 transitive verb1
: 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.
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