blind

8 synonyms and 1 antonym for blind, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Unable to see, or having severely limited eyesight.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

screen

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

dim

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sightless unsighted visually impaired unseeing subterfuge unreasoning

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Unable to see, or having severely limited eyesight.

“She has been blind since birth and reads using Braille.”

sightless unsighted visually impaired unseeing screen dim subterfuge unreasoning

Opposites

sighted

2. noun

A window covering, often made of slats or fabric, used to block or filter light.

“She pulled down the blinds to keep out the afternoon sun.”

screen subterfuge

3. verb

To take away someone's ability to see, or to make someone fail to notice something important.

“The bright headlights temporarily blinded the driver.”

dim

How to use blind

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

blind spot turn a blind eye window blind

Etymology

From Old English "blind," from a Proto-Germanic root of the same meaning.

Full origin of blind →

Frequently asked questions

What does “blind” mean?

The word “blind” means unable to see, or having severely limited eyesight. In plain terms, unable to see, or (figuratively) unwilling or unable to notice something; also a window covering or wildlife hideout.

How do you pronounce “blind”?

“Blind” is pronounced BLYND (/ˈblaɪ̯nd/ in IPA).

How do you use “blind” in a sentence?

Here is “blind” used in a sentence: “She has been blind since birth and reads using Braille.”

What part of speech is “blind”?

Depending on how it is used, “blind” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “blind” come from?

The word “blind” comes from Old English. From Old English "blind," from a Proto-Germanic root of the same meaning.

Is “blind” a common word?

“Blind” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “blind” have?

“Blind” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: unable to see, or having severely limited eyesight.

What does it mean to be blind?

To be blind is to be unable to see, or to have severely limited eyesight. Blindness ranges from a total absence of vision to partial sight, where a person can perceive some light or shapes but not enough to see clearly. It can be present from birth or develop later through injury or illness.

What is the difference between blind and visually impaired?

Blind traditionally means a total or near-total loss of sight, while visually impaired is a broader term covering any significant reduction in vision, including partial sight. Many people use 'visually impaired' as a respectful umbrella term, reserving 'blind' for those with little or no usable vision.

What does blind mean figuratively?

Beyond the literal loss of sight, blind is often used to mean unable or unwilling to notice or understand something, as in 'blind to the risks.' It can also mean without reason or awareness, as in 'blind faith' or 'a blind guess,' where a choice is made with no information to guide it.

Related words

ageusic anosmic curtain deaf invisible jalousie print disabled

People also searched

screen dim sighted unsighted subterfuge sightless

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of blind