blanket

1 of 3

noun

blan·​ket ˈblaŋ-kət How to pronounce blanket (audio)
1
a
: a large usually oblong piece of woven fabric used as a bed covering
b
: a similar piece of fabric used as a body covering (as for an animal)
a horse blanket
2
: something that resembles a blanket
a blanket of fog
a blanket of gloom
3
: a rubber or plastic sheet on the cylinder in an offset press that transfers the image to the surface being printed
blanketlike adjective

blanket

2 of 3

verb

blanketed; blanketing; blankets

transitive verb

1
: to cover with or as if with a blanket
new grass blankets the slope
2
a
: to cover so as to obscure, interrupt, suppress, or extinguish
blanket a fire with foam
b
: to interrupt the smooth flow of wind to (something, such as a downwind ship)
c
: to apply or cause to apply to uniformly despite wide separation or diversity among the elements included
freight rates that blanket a region
d
: to cause to be included
automatically blanketed into the program
towns blanketed into the district

blanket

3 of 3

adjective

1
: effective or applicable in all instances or contingencies
blanket rules
Traveller rights across the European Union remain unchanged despite the blanket cancellation of flights and holidays in recent weeks …Conor Pope
A blanket ban on all private collecting of ivory could result in the confiscation and destruction of many historically important pieces of work.Kit Roberts
Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, chair of African American Studies at Temple University, … remarked: "I do not think that anyone should make any blanket statements about any ethnic or cultural group without citing authoritative sources to substantiate those statements."Peter Noel
2
: covering all members of a group or class without individual apportionment
blanket insurance coverage
… calling for a five per cent blanket wage reduction for all city hall staffers …Melissa Gilligan

Examples of blanket in a Sentence

Noun It's going to get cold tonight so you may need extra blankets. a blanket of fog concealed the view of the harbor Verb Ice was blanketing the bay. The fields were blanketed with flowers. Adjective a blanket amnesty for all illegal aliens a blanket ban on use of the chemical
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Add throw blankets and trays with hot cocoa mugs to mimic ski chalet vibes. Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 21 Nov. 2024 Speaking of prices, a Barefoot Dreams blanket typically costs $160 and over. Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
Just as both teams were settling in after halftime, the stadium turned into a winter wonderland as snow blanketed not only the field but fans, players and coaches alike. Jacob Lev, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024 The Northeast will also be blanketed with cooler temperatures, wet snow, and some rain, offering a reprieve from the ongoing drought. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Add in those warm layers with this pretty blanket scarf that can be wrapped in a bunch of different ways. Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 22 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for blanket 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English blanket, blaunket "woolen cloth (usually undyed), bed covering," borrowed from Anglo-French blanchet, blaunchet, blanket "whitish, cosmetic powder made from white lead, white woolen material, bed covering" (also continental Old & Middle French blanchet, blanquet "white, white woolen fabric, sleeveless woman's garment"), from blanc "white" + -et, diminutive suffix (going back to Latin -ittus) — more at blank entry 1

Verb

derivative of blanket entry 1

Adjective

from attributive use of blanket entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blanket was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near blanket

Cite this Entry

“Blanket.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blanket. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

blanket

1 of 3 noun
blan·​ket ˈblaŋ-kət How to pronounce blanket (audio)
1
: a large warm usually rectangular covering used for beds
2
: a covering of any kind
a horse blanket
a blanket of snow

blanket

2 of 3 verb
: to cover with or as if with a blanket

blanket

3 of 3 adjective
: covering all instances or members of a group or class
blanket approval

Legal Definition

blanket

adjective
blan·​ket
1
: covering or affecting all members of a group or class
blanket health coverage
2
: covering or affecting all situations
a blanket release of liability

More from Merriam-Webster on blanket

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