blind spot

noun

1

a

: the small circular area at the back of the retina where the optic nerve enters the eyeball and which is devoid of rods and cones and is not sensitive to light

called also optic disc

see eye illustration

b

: a portion of a field that cannot be seen or inspected with available equipment

2

: an area in which one fails to exercise judgment or discrimination

Examples of blind spot in a Sentence

When driving on the highway, you need to make sure no one is in your blind spot before changing lanes.

She has a blind spot concerning her son's behavior.

Recent Examples on the Web

Digging into assumptions opens the door to fresh perspectives and helps identify blind spots. —Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024

Spikes on commercial vehicles, like 18-wheelers, also serve to warn other drivers of their proximity, especially in the trucks' blind spots. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Nov. 2024

Believing the only way to address blind spots is to measure everything, Veja digs deep into its emissions, with a particular focus on scope 3 involving all of the activities carried out by its suppliers and partners, from raw materials to transportation. —Victoria Malloy, TIME, 27 Nov. 2024

In a way, these blind spots were a leftover of the era of President Barack Obama, who galvanized the youth vote and harnessed the energy of hip-hop and celebrity star power in his 2008 presidential run. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

blind spot

noun

1

a

: a point in the retina through which the optic nerve enters and which does not respond to light

b

: a part of an area that cannot be seen with available equipment

2

: an area of weakness (as in judgment)

Medical Definition

blind spot

noun

: the small circular area in the retina where the optic nerve enters the eye that is devoid of rods and cones and is insensitive to light

called also optic disc