blank check

noun

|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

Definition of blank check

1 : a signed check with the amount unspecified

2 : complete freedom of action or control : carte blanche

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Recent Examples of blank check from the Web

Don't sign blank checks that allow another person to fill in the amount.

— erika pesantes, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Seniors: Tips to avoid being scammed," 21 June 2018
Powell is accused of stealing roughly $3,000 worth of blank checks and cashing them at a liquor store.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "Katina Powell, accused of stealing blank checks, will see grand jury," 7 June 2018
White privilege is like an invisible weightless backpack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks.

— michael harriot, The Root, "A Thank-You Letter to Kim Kardashian for Proving White Privilege Is Real," 7 June 2018
The police officer then searched Neuwirth's vehicle and discovered blank checks, credit cards, employment applications and other documents containing identifying information - mostly from flood victims.

— maria clark, NOLA.com, "Man shot in leg in Algiers: NOPD," 1 June 2018
And while the Pentagon received $700 billion as part of Congress’s government funding package, putting funding for the military at historic levels, that’s not a blank check to the Pentagon.

— tara golshan, Vox, "No, Donald Trump can’t just use Pentagon money for his border wall," 30 Mar. 2018
But for some hawks in Congress, anything short of a blank check constitutes legislative meddling.

— elizabeth goitein, Fortune, "Congress Is About to Decide Whether to Give Trump More or Less Power to Expand Wars," 4 June 2018
For too long, Congress has given presidents a blank check to wage war.

— byron tau, WSJ, "Senators Release Bill to Update Law Underpinning War on Terrorism," 16 Apr. 2018
County Councilman Rick McKinney said the majority of the council supports the expansion but isn't going to hand over a blank check.

— chris sikich, Indianapolis Star, "Hamilton County delays $24M expansion of judicial center after cost proves higher than anticipated," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blank check.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of blank check

1793

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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BLANK CHECK Defined for English Language Learners

blank check

noun

Definition of blank check for English Language Learners

: a signed check that does not have the amount of money written on it yet
: complete control or freedom

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See words that rhyme with blank check Spanish Central: Translation of blank check

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