# blessing

/ˈbɫɛsɪŋ/ (US) · /blˈɛsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blessing
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. something good

noun · CEFR B1

something that is extremely lucky or helpful.

For teachers: a beneficial thing for which one is grateful; a source of happiness or good fortune.

- Having a supportive family has been a real blessing during these difficult times.
- The sudden rain was a blessing for the farmers, whose crops were beginning to wither after weeks of intense heat.

### 2. approval

noun · CEFR B2

official permission or support for something.

For teachers: a formal expression of approval or sanction for a particular course of action.

- The couple asked for her parents' blessing before they got married.
- The board of directors gave their blessing to the merger, provided that no staff members were made redundant in the process.

### 3. religious prayer

noun · CEFR B2

a prayer asking for God's help or protection.

For teachers: a prayer or ceremony intended to invoke divine favour or protection.

- The priest gave a final blessing to the crowd at the end of the service.
- Before the feast began, the eldest member of the family offered a traditional blessing to express gratitude for the harvest.

### 4. a group of unicorns

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

the special name for a group of unicorns.

For teachers: a collective noun specifically used for a group of unicorns.

- In the storybook, a blessing of unicorns lived in the enchanted forest.
- The poet employed the whimsical term 'a blessing of unicorns' to evoke a sense of ancient, mythical wonder in the opening stanza.

Usage: This is a collective noun; it is rarely used outside of fantasy literature or wordplay.

## Examples

- The rain was a blessing for the dry garden.
- Having a supportive family is a real blessing when you are going through a difficult time at work.
- The new highway proved to be a mixed blessing; while it shortened the commute significantly, the resulting noise pollution drove down local property values.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.