blank slate

noun

: tabula rasa

Examples of blank slate in a Sentence

She viewed her students as blank slates, just waiting to be filled with knowledge.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The blank slate problem AI agents, like a lot of new software tools (including chatbots), suffer from the blank slate problem. — Adam Clark Estes, Vox, 16 Oct. 2026 For engineers, having a blank slate was both an appeal and a terror. — Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026 The land was mostly vacant — virtually a blank slate between State and Clark streets stretching from Polk to 15th Street. — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026 In head-to-toe beige, Jenner dressed the part of a blank slate. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blank slate

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blank slate was in 1886

Rhymes for blank slate

See All Rhymes for blank slate

Browse Nearby Words

blank signature
blank slate
blank stare
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blank slate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blank%20slate. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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