# blindfold

/ˈbɫaɪndˌfoʊɫd/ (US) · /blˈaɪndfəʊld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blindfold
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. eye covering

noun · CEFR B2

a piece of cloth tied around someone's head to cover their eyes.

For teachers: a bandage or cloth covering for the eyes, intended to obstruct vision.

- The magician asked for a volunteer to check that the blindfold was thick enough.
- The hostage was forced to wear a heavy silk blindfold, which completely disoriented his sense of direction during the journey.

### 2. to cover the eyes

verb · CEFR B2

to put a cloth over someone's eyes so they cannot see.

For teachers: to cover the eyes of a person with a cloth or bandage to prevent sight. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- They blindfolded him before leading him to the surprise party.
- In many psychological experiments, researchers blindfold participants to ensure that visual cues do not interfere with their tactile perception.

### 3. wearing a covering

adjective · CEFR B2

having your eyes covered so you cannot see.

For teachers: having the eyes covered by a blindfold; non-gradable.

- The blindfold prisoner was led slowly across the courtyard.
- The blindfold subjects were asked to identify various aromatic herbs using only their sense of smell.

### 4. without looking

adverb · CEFR B2

doing something while your eyes are covered, or doing something very easily.

For teachers: with the eyes covered; figuratively used to indicate a task performed with extreme ease or without due caution.

- He has played that piano piece so many times he could do it blindfold.
- The mechanic claimed he could disassemble the vintage engine blindfold, having worked on that specific model for over thirty years.

## Examples

- He wore a blindfold during the surprise party.
- The magician asked the volunteer to wear a blindfold to ensure the trick remained a mystery.
- In the traditional game of blindfolded tag, players must navigate the space using only their hearing and sense of touch to avoid being caught.

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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.