# Blight

/ˈbɫaɪt/ (US) · /blˈaɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

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

## Definition

something that spoils or damages a place or situation, making it look or feel much worse. It is often used to describe ugly buildings in a city or a disease that kills plants.

For teachers: a deleterious influence or condition that causes decay, stagnation, or ruin. Often refers metaphorically to urban decay or literally to botanical diseases that cause rapid tissue death.

## Examples

- The abandoned factory is a blight on the neighborhood.
- Local residents complained that the graffiti and broken windows were a blight on the historic district.
- The potato blight of the 1840s decimated crops across Ireland, leading to a catastrophic famine and permanent shifts in the country's demographic landscape.

## Usage notes

- Typically used in the singular when referring to a specific eyesore or social problem ('a blight on').

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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.