blind

noun

plural blinds

1

: something to hinder sight or keep out light: such as

a

: a window shutter

b

: a roller window shade

c

: venetian blind

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

4

the blind often offensive : people who are lacking or deficient in sight

Note: This use is often considered offensive. Phrases such as "people who are blind" or "people with blindness" are often preferred. Some organizations use the blind in their names, such as the National Federation of the Blind. Use of the blind in such contexts is not usually regarded as offensive.

see also the usage paragraph at blind entry 1

Examples of blind in a Sentence

Some say the investigation is a blind to keep the public's attention off the governor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Keep the sun out by closing any shades, blinds, or curtains. —Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 8 June 2026

Limit other activity around the nest by using a different door to enter or exit your house, encouraging kids to play away from the nest, or closing the curtains or blinds on a window that faces the nest. —Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 6 June 2026

Quiet, Cordless, and Safe for Families Traditional blinds often rely on cords, posing a safety concern for children and pets. —Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 2 June 2026

Although the venetian blinds were down in the bedroom, there were spaces between the top slats (there must be some unconscious superstition that prevents us from fully closing those blinds), and the headlights of the cars shone through the narrow, parallel gaps. —Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

derivative of blind entry 1 or blind entry 2

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing blind

• blind alley
• blind bag
• blind box
• blind carbon copy
• blind date
• blind drunk
• blind gut
• blind pig
• blind side
• blind spot
• blind tiger
• blind trust
• color-blind
• double-blind
• fly blind
• go blind
• gravel-blind
• hoodman-blind
• love is blind
• not a blind bit
• rob blind
• Roman blind
• sand-blind
• single-blind
• stone-blind
• struck deaf/blind
• swear blind
• turn a blind eye
• venetian blind

Rhymes for blind

• bind
• dined
• find
• fined
• grind
• hind
• kind
• lined
• mind
• mined
• pined
• rind

Kids Definition

blind

1 of 4 adjective

ˈblīnd 

1

a

: sightless

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

ˈblīn-(d)lē 

adverb

blindness

ˈblīn(d)-nəs 

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

ˈblīnd 

blinder; blindest

1

a

: lacking or deficient in sight

specifically : having less than ¹/₁₀ of normal vision in the more efficient eye when refractive defects are fully corrected by lenses

b

: of, relating to, or designed for persons lacking or deficient in sight

blind care

Note: Some disability advocates recommend against the use of the word blind before nouns such as person, woman, man, etc., which is sometimes considered offensive because it is regarded as defining a person by their condition. Instead, they suggest using language that acknowledges the person before their condition or disability, as in "a person who is blind" or "a person with blindness." Others in the disability community consider phrases such as "a blind person" acceptable.

2

a

sometimes offensive : 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

sometimes offensive : 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

Note: Figurative uses of blind, whether alone or as part of a longer word, compound, or idiom, are also sometimes considered offensive when they associate negative characteristics (such as lack of knowledge or understanding) with blindness. Generally speaking, the more negative such a use is, the more likely it is to offend.

3

: having but one opening or outlet

the cecum is a blind pouch

blindly

ˈblīn-(d)lē 

adverb

blindness

ˈblīn(d)-nəs 

noun

blind

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to make (a person or animal) permanently blind

2

sometimes offensive : 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.