blinkered
Americanadjective
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narrow-minded and subjective; unwilling to understand another viewpoint.
When in the Oval Office, Hoover was blinkered by his distrust of government.
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having blinkers on; fitted with blinkers.
a blinkered racehorse.
adjective
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considering only a narrow point of view
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(of a horse) wearing blinkers
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of blinkered
First recorded in 1895–1900; blinker ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Explanation
When someone is blinkered, they're narrow-minded, or have a limited understanding. Your brother is blinkered by his belief that only boys should belong to his secret club. The adjective blinkered describes anyone who lacks the ability to include different viewpoints and experiences in their own understanding of the world. Your might think your grandfather wouldn't make a good president because, despite being a nice guy, he's blinkered by his old-fashioned opinions. This figurative meaning comes from the blinkers or "blinders" worn by horses that force them to focus only on the path in front of them.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The camera is almost always static; the frame is frozen in a way that virtually imprisons the characters, suggesting that their blinkered belief systems similarly constrain their thoughts and direct their deeds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026
Ms. MacDonald’s love for the company—the book ends with a ranking of her 50 favorite Nintendo games—can veer toward blinkered adoration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
This is a blinkered and shallow understanding of religion that crumbles under historical or sociological scrutiny.
From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2025
If only the whole story had been told from Låke’s curious and blinkered perspective, “The Colony” might have ended up more show than tell, and the more eloquent for it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2025
Because he blinkered out what he could not immediately comprehend, his travels to Tokyo, New York, and California did little to awaken a sense of wonder and excitement.
From "Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West" by Blaine Harden
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
