blind spot

noun

plural blind spots

1

a

: the small circular area at the back of the retina where the optic nerve enters the eyeball and which is devoid of rods and cones and is not sensitive to light

called also optic disc

see eye illustration

b

: a portion of a field that cannot be seen or inspected with available equipment

2

sometimes offensive : an area in which someone fails to exercise judgment or discrimination see usage paragraph at blind entry 1

Examples of blind spot in a Sentence

When driving on the highway, you need to make sure no one is in your blind spot before changing lanes.

She has a blind spot concerning her son's behavior.

Recent Examples on the Web

For years, this ultrafast breakdown happening within just one to two femtoseconds (10-15 seconds) has been one of physics’ most stubborn blind spots. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026

There are a lot of blind spots – which even some US officials have recognized. —Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026

But Rolling Stone — and its predominantly white male readership — had its share of blind spots. —James Sullivan, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026

Yet, like the Academy, the movie business at large has its blind spots; some of Iran’s best films remain unrecognized in the United States. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for blind spot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot

Kids Definition

blind spot

noun

1

a

: a point in the retina through which the optic nerve enters and which does not respond to light

b

: a part of an area that cannot be seen with available equipment

2

: an area of weakness (as in judgment)

Medical Definition

blind spot

noun

: the small circular area in the retina where the optic nerve enters the eye that is devoid of rods and cones and is insensitive to light

called also optic disc