blot

¹ American  

[blot] / blɒt /

noun

1. a spot or stain, especially of ink on paper.

   Synonyms:

   blotch

2. a blemish on a person's character or reputation.

   He had been haunted by a blot on his past.

   Synonyms:

   spot, disgrace, dishonor, taint, stain

3. Archaic. an erasure or obliteration, as in a writing.

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verb (used with object)

blotted, blotting

1. to spot, stain, soil, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   disfigure, sully

2. to darken; make dim; obscure or eclipse (usually followed byout ).

   We watched as the moon blotted out the sun.

   Synonyms:

   expunge, erase, efface, obliterate

3. to dry with absorbent paper or the like.

   to blot the wet pane.

4. to remove with absorbent paper or the like.

   Synonyms:

   absorb

verb (used without object)

blotted, blotting

1. to make a blot; spread ink, dye, etc., in a stain.

   The more slowly I write, the more this pen blots.

2. to become blotted or stained.

   This paper blots too easily.

3. Chemistry. to transfer an array of separated components of a mixture to a chemically treated paper for analysis.

verb phrase

1. blot out

   1. to make indistinguishable; obliterate.

      to blot out a name from the record.

   2. to wipe out completely; destroy.

      Whole cities were blotted out by bombs.

blot ² American  

[blot] / blɒt /

noun

1. Backgammon. an exposed piece liable to be taken or forfeited.

2. Archaic. an exposed or weak point, as in an argument or course of action.

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blot ¹ British  

/ blɒt /

noun

1. a stain or spot of ink, paint, dirt, etc

2. something that spoils or detracts from the beauty or worth of something

3. a blemish or stain on one's character or reputation

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verb

1. (of ink, dye, etc) to form spots or blobs on (a material) or (of a person) to cause such spots or blobs to form on (a material)

2. informal to spoil one's reputation by making a mistake, offending against social customs, etc

3. (intr) to stain or become stained or spotted

4. (tr) to cause a blemish in or on; disgrace

5. to soak up (excess ink, etc) by using blotting paper or some other absorbent material

6. (of blotting paper or some other absorbent material) to absorb (excess ink, etc)

7. 1. to darken or hide completely; obscure; obliterate

   2. to destroy; annihilate

blot ² British  

/ blɒt /

noun

1. backgammon a man exposed by being placed alone on a point and therefore able to be taken by the other player

2. archaic a weak spot

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Other Word Forms

• blotless
  adjective
• blottingly
  adverb
• blotty
  adjective
• unblotted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of blot¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun blot(te); orign uncertain; perhaps akin to Old Norse blettr “blot, spot, stain”; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of blot²

First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; perhaps from Low German blat, akin to bloot “bare, exposed, unprotected”; possibly cognate with Dutch bloot, German bloss bare

Explanation

A blot is a dirty smudge, mark, or stain, like the giant blot of ketchup that remains on your shirt long after the hotdog-eating contest is over. A blot tends to mar or dirty a pristine surface, whether it's an ink blot on the book report you spent hours writing, or a blot of black paint on a white kitchen counter. Figuratively, a blot is something that dirties a person's reputation: "The scandal was a blot on the presidential campaign." As a verb, blot can mean "obscure," like when you use your hand to blot out the sun, or "dry a wet spot," the way you blot spilled tea with your napkin.

Example Sentences

The German DAX was one blot on the early European picture, falling 0.7% as SAP tumbled 12% after announcing earnings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

A 5-2 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in September was an early blot in Alonso's copy book, while even when Madrid were winning games, they were not overly convincing.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

A black blot suddenly appears on the wall, as if someone hurled an inkpot.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2025

Watched by hundreds of villagers, it was described as a blot on Rajasthan and India.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2024

“When I can’t sleep I walk around,” he said, “to try to blot it out.”

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• blemish
• blotch
• smudge
• speck