plural blinders
1
: either of two flaps on a horse's bridle to keep it from seeing objects at its sides
—usually used in plural —often used figuratively
… they have been wearing blinders, refusing to see events or realities that may have threatened their sense of security …—
Fern Schumer Chapman
—often used in phrases like put/keep/have blinders on and take one's blinders offFern Schumer ChapmanShe put blinders on and ignored the problem.
I need to keep my blinders on [=ignore distractions] and focus on the task at hand.
We have to take our blinders off and face reality.
see usage paragraph at blind entry 1
2
British, informal
: something (such as an athletic play) that is dazzlingly excellent or remarkable
… Timsbury held some important catches, including a blinder from Greg Passingham …—Bath (England) Chronicle
Bath (England) ChronicleExamples of blinder in a Sentence
Noun
Their team played a blinder to beat us in the closing seconds of the match.
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Dec. 2025
The team, in a sense, can somewhat resemble a horse with blinders on, squarely focusing on the task ahead of them rather than the standings.
—Miami Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
Her pact-mate, Jules (the two had vowed to focus on work and not get distracted by romance) is not doing very well keeping the blinders on either.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025
This tour is off to a blinder, a result for anyone in the place who wanted, waited for this band, and used the opportunity to go let it all out, and sing at the top of their lungs.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2025
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Noun
Young’s nature is to walk through his NFL career with blinders on — never looking back and never looking more than a week in front of him.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 11 Dec. 2025
The team, in a sense, can somewhat resemble a horse with blinders on, squarely focusing on the task ahead of them rather than the standings.
—Miami Herald, 2 Dec. 2025
Her pact-mate, Jules (the two had vowed to focus on work and not get distracted by romance) is not doing very well keeping the blinders on either.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025
This tour is off to a blinder, a result for anyone in the place who wanted, waited for this band, and used the opportunity to go let it all out, and sing at the top of their lungs.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for blinder
Cite this Entry
“Blinder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blinder. Accessed 17 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
blinder
noun
blind·er
ˈblīn-dər 
: either of two leather flaps on a horse's bridle to keep it from seeing to the side
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