blinkered

American  

[bling-kerd] / ˈblɪŋ kərd /

adjective

1. narrow-minded and subjective; unwilling to understand another viewpoint.

   When in the Oval Office, Hoover was blinkered by his distrust of government.

2. having blinkers on; fitted with blinkers.

   a blinkered racehorse.

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blinkered British  

/ ˈblɪŋkəd /

adjective

1. considering only a narrow point of view

2. (of a horse) wearing blinkers

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Other Word Forms

• unblinkered adjective

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

He said investigators must not be "blinkered" or put crimes into boxes while ignoring the overlap between some offences.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

But the challenges buffeting America these days go beyond the author’s charged and sometimes blinkered framework.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

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

He has something of the blinkered pony about him But this is criticism more accurate than fair.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez