blindness

American  

[blahynd-nis] / ˈblaɪnd nɪs /

noun

1. the inability to see; the condition of having severely impaired or absolutely no sense of sight.

   Patients are first asked if their blindness is congenital or the result of injury or disease.

2. an unwillingness or inability to perceive or understand; lack of judgment; ignorance.

   Your blindness to this behavior has allowed his anxiety to worsen.

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blindness Scientific  

/ blīnd′nĭs /

1. A lack or impairment of vision in which maximal visual acuity after correction by refractive lenses is one-tenth normal vision or less in the better eye. Blindness can be genetic but is usually acquired as a result of injury, cataracts, or diseases such as glaucoma or diabetes. In Asia and Africa, trachoma is a common infectious cause of blindness.

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Etymology

Origin of blindness

First recorded before 1000; blind ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

He said quick treatment was essential to increase the chances of survival and to avoid life-changing disabilities, such as loss of limbs, blindness and brain injury.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Over time, it can lead to serious complications, including nerve damage, blindness, coma, and even death.

From Science Daily • Mar. 2, 2026

She says the International Working Group’s criteria requiring cognitive impairment to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease is problematic, likening it to requiring someone with diabetes to wait until they have blindness or kidney failure to be diagnosed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

The answer isn’t ideological blindness so much as methodological constraint.

From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026

“Creatures of whimsy are not solely confined to the preserves. The blindness of mortals can be a blessing. Take care where you look.”

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Related Words

• defect
• myopia