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.

English philosopher John Locke's late-17th-century idea that humans were born as "tabulae rasae," or blank slates, had incalculable influence.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2022

Many favor an evolutionary, biological basis for our verbal skills over the view that we are tabulae rasae, but all agree that we learn language largely from listening.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 7, 2019

You’re not pretending you both arrived at your relationship as tabulae rasae, and neither of you freezes up or lashes out when the existence of former partners comes up.

From Slate • Jan. 24, 2017

The idea that these technologies provide tabulae rasae on which events inscribe themselves is bunkum.

From The Guardian • Sep. 6, 2014

We may not be born as tabulae rasae.

From Time Magazine Archive