plural blights
1
: a disease that makes plants dry up and die
potato blight
2
a
: something that causes harm or damage like a disease
—usually singular
the blight of poverty in the city
—usually + onThe abandoned factory is a blight on the neighborhood.
b
: a damaged condition
the city's spreading urban blight
environmental blight
blights; blighted; blighting
1
: to damage (plants) with a disease
—usually used as (be) blighted
The apple trees were blighted by fungus.
2
: to damage (a thing or place)
Builders blighted the land with malls and parking lots.
Cite this Entry
“Blight.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/blight. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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