Definition

Noun: A person who has a severe visual impairment, meaning they have very limited or no ability to see.

Usage

The term "blind person" is a neutral, descriptive noun phrase used to refer to an individual whose vision is severely impaired. It is considered direct and respectful when used in factual contexts. The phrase focuses on the person first, with "blind" describing a characteristic.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The museum offers special tactile tours for the blind person.
  • A blind person can navigate the city using a white cane or a guide dog.
  • She is a successful lawyer who happens to be a blind person.

Advanced Usage

• "Person who is blind": This is a person-first alternative that some individuals and communities prefer, as it emphasizes the person before the disability. The meaning is identical to "blind person."
  • The new software was designed by a person who is blind.

Variants and Related Words

• Blindness (n): The condition of being unable to see.
  • The accident resulted in permanent blindness.
• Visually impaired (adj): A broader term that can include varying degrees of sight loss, not necessarily complete blindness.
  • The school has resources for visually impaired students.

Synonyms

• Visually impaired individual: A more formal synonym that covers a range of sight loss.
• Person with visual impairment: A person-first synonym with the same meaning.

Notes on Usage

• The term is generally acceptable, but language preferences can vary among individuals. In many contemporary contexts, person-first language ("person who is blind") is encouraged to highlight the individual's humanity first.
• It is important to use the term as a descriptor, not as a defining label (e.g., "a blind person" not "a blind").

Noun

1. a person with a severe visual impairment