NYT Dictionary

BLOND

/blɑnd/
AdjectiveNounVerbBLONDblond · 1 syllableGrade 2

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2019, 2020, 2024, 2025

Meaning

Of a bleached or pale golden (light yellowish) colour.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Borrowed from Middle French blond m, from Old French blond, blont, blund, (> Medieval Latin blondus), from Frankish *blund (“a mixed color between golden and light-brown”), from Proto-Germanic *blundaz (“mixed, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlendʰ- (“to become turbid, see badly, go blind”). Compare Old English blondenfeax (“grey-haired”), Old English blandan (“to mix”). See more at blend. An alternative etymology connects Frankish *blund to Proto-Germanic *blundaz (“blond”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰl̥ndʰ-, *bʰlendʰ- (“blond, red-haired”). If so, then it would be cognate with Sanskrit ब्रध्न (bradhná, “ruddy, pale red, yellowish”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

fair-hairedflaxengolden-hairedplatinumauricomousblondetteTraditional terms for light hair are fair(-haired)fairheadedtow-hairedyellow-haired

Antonyms

brunet

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 2 recorded puzzles:

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