noun

blindfold

BLYND-fohld

Blindfold (noun) means a piece of cloth tied over someone's eyes to stop them seeing. Example: “She tied the blindfold and spun her friend around for the party game.”

noun

A piece of cloth tied over someone's eyes to stop them seeing.

"She tied the blindfold and spun her friend around for the party game."

verb

To cover someone's eyes so they cannot see.

"The magician asked a volunteer to blindfold him before the trick began."

adj

Done with the eyes covered, especially as a test of skill.

"The chess champion played a blindfold match against six opponents at once."

How to use blindfold

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cloth or covering over the eyes so someone can't see, or the act of covering someone's eyes this way.

Common pairings

wear a blindfold put on a blindfold blindfold chess blindfolded volunteer

Word forms

blindfolded past tense, blindfolds plural, blindfolds singular

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She tied the _____ and spun her friend around for the party game.

Etymology

From Middle English words meaning "struck blind" — the original idea was of someone made blind by force, and over time the "strike" part faded into today's spelling with "fold," suggesting a folded cloth over the eyes.

Origin: Middle English

Frequently asked questions

What does “blindfold” mean?

The word “blindfold” means a piece of cloth tied over someone's eyes to stop them seeing. In plain terms, a cloth or covering over the eyes so someone can't see, or the act of covering someone's eyes this way.

How do you pronounce “blindfold”?

“Blindfold” is pronounced BLYND-fohld (/ˈblaɪ̯ndfɔʊ̯ld/ in IPA).

How do you use “blindfold” in a sentence?

Here is “blindfold” used in a sentence: “She tied the blindfold and spun her friend around for the party game.”

What part of speech is “blindfold”?

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

Where does the word “blindfold” come from?

The word “blindfold” comes from Middle English. From Middle English words meaning "struck blind" — the original idea was of someone made blind by force, and over time the "strike" part faded into today's spelling with "fold," suggesting a folded cloth over the eyes.

How many meanings does “blindfold” have?

“Blindfold” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece of cloth tied over someone's eyes to stop them seeing.