Word
blanket
Phoneticsblan·ket, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɫæŋkət/
UK/blˈæŋkɪt/
Definitions
01bedding
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a large piece of thick cloth that you use on a bed to keep warm.
n. a large piece of typically woollen or synthetic fabric used as a bed covering for thermal insulation.
日本語:毛布※
“It was a cold night, so I put an extra blanket on the bed.”
“The hotel provides woollen blankets in the wardrobe for guests who prefer traditional bedding over the standard synthetic duvets.”
02a covering layer
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a thick layer of something that covers the ground or an area.
n. a thick, uniform layer of a substance that covers a surface or landscape.
Español:capa
“A thick blanket of snow covered the fields and the trees.”
“By dawn, a heavy blanket of fog had settled over the valley, reducing visibility to less than ten metres for morning commuters.”
03applying to everything
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing something that covers all cases or people without any exceptions.
adj. applying to all conditions, instances, or members of a group; used attributively before a noun.
“The company has a blanket ban on smoking anywhere in the building.”
“The regulator issued a blanket warning to all financial institutions regarding the increased risk of sophisticated phishing attacks during the holiday season.”
Usage
Always used before a noun.
Synonyms
04to cover completely
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to cover an area with a thick layer of something.
v. to cover a surface or area with a uniform layer; often used in the passive voice.
“The volcanic ash started to blanket the nearby villages.”
“The marketing campaign was designed to blanket the city with advertisements, ensuring that every resident would encounter the brand at least once.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “blanket” in context.
Verb
01. issue a blanket ban
“The government decided to issue a blanket ban on all single-use plastics starting next year.”
verb + noun
02. wrap in a blanket
“The rescue workers immediately wrapped the shivering child in a warm blanket.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. blanket statement
“It is unfair to make a blanket statement about all teenagers being lazy.”
adj + noun
04. electric blanket
“She turned on her electric blanket an hour before going to bed to stay cozy.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. blanket of fog
“A heavy blanket of fog rolled in from the sea, making driving conditions dangerous.”
noun + of + noun
06. blanket of snow
“We woke up to find a thick blanket of snow covering the entire garden.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. under a blanket
“The cat was hiding under a blanket on the sofa during the thunderstorm.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Social media companies generally oppose blanket bans, arguing that they already have measures to protect younger users, including a minimum age of 13.” “Bethan Earley, from Rugby, told us she kept her home cool by putting foil blankets on the outside of her windows before closing them.” “These contaminants settle in ductwork, walls, carpets and furniture, as well as on clothing, blankets and toys.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English blanket, blonket, blaunket, from Old Northern French blanket, blancet (“white horse", also "white woollen cloth or flannel; a type of jacket”, literally “that which is white”) (whence Modern French blanchet), diminutive of blanc (“white”), of Germanic origin (compare Old English blanca (“white horse”); see more at blank). Furthermore, the sense "white woollen cloth" is likely a calque of Old English hwītel (“blanket; cloak, mantle”), from Old English hwīt (“white”) + -el (diminutive suffix). Compare also Old Norse hvítill (“a white bed-cover, sheet”), Norwegian kvitel (“blanket”). Compare also blunket, plunket. Displaced native Middle English whytel, from Old English hwītel (whence Modern English whittle (“blanket, cloak, shawl”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/blanket
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0