blind trust: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Technical, Political, Business
Quick answer
What does “blind trust” mean?
A legal arrangement where assets are managed by an independent trustee, without the beneficiary (who placed them there) having knowledge or control over specific decisions, often to avoid conflicts of interest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A legal arrangement where assets are managed by an independent trustee, without the beneficiary (who placed them there) having knowledge or control over specific decisions, often to avoid conflicts of interest.
1. Unquestioning faith or confidence in someone or something, without seeking evidence or verification. 2. (In computing/security) A model where one system inherently trusts another without ongoing validation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal/financial sense is identical in both. The metaphorical sense is slightly more common in American discourse on politics and relationships.
Connotations
In both, the legal sense is neutral/professional. The metaphorical sense often implies foolishness or vulnerability in the UK, while in the US it can sometimes be framed more neutrally as 'faith' (e.g., in leadership).
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to more prevalent public discussion of political ethics and financial arrangements for officials.
Grammar
How to Use “blind trust” in a Sentence
[subject] placed [possessive] assets in a blind trust.[subject] has/show/place blind trust in [object].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blind trust” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Politicians are often required to blind trust their investment portfolios.
- He decided to blind trust his savings to the new manager.
American English
- The official agreed to blind trust his assets for the duration of his term.
- You can't just blind trust every piece of advice you get online.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as a single adverb for this noun phrase.
American English
- Not applicable as a single adverb for this noun phrase.
adjective
British English
- The blind-trust arrangement was fully documented.
- He operates on a blind-trust basis with his advisor.
American English
- She set up a blind-trust fund to avoid conflicts.
- Their partnership was a blind-trust agreement from the start.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a vehicle for managing investments to prevent insider trading or conflicts for executives or politicians.
Academic
Used in political science, ethics, and law to discuss mechanisms for preventing corruption.
Everyday
Used metaphorically to criticise someone for believing something without evidence (e.g., 'You're just taking his word on blind trust?').
Technical
A specific type of trust law construct where the settlor-beneficiary is deliberately kept ignorant of holdings and transactions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blind trust”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blind trust”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blind trust”
- Using it interchangeably with any 'trust fund'. A blind trust is defined by the beneficiary's lack of knowledge/control, not just the existence of a trustee.
- Confusing 'blind trust' (noun phrase) with 'trust blindly' (verb + adverb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. As a legal/financial term, it's neutral—a tool for ethics. The negative connotation applies mainly to its metaphorical use, suggesting a lack of critical thinking.
While most famously used by politicians and high-ranking officials, any individual (e.g., a company executive, a celebrity) concerned about perceived conflicts of interest can establish one, though it is a complex legal instrument.
A standard trust involves a trustee managing assets for a beneficiary who is typically aware of the holdings. In a blind trust, the beneficiary has no knowledge or control over how the trustee manages the assets, creating a 'firewall'.
"Don't accept those figures on blind trust; always ask to see the original data for yourself." This uses it metaphorically to mean 'without verification'.
A legal arrangement where assets are managed by an independent trustee, without the beneficiary (who placed them there) having knowledge or control over specific decisions, often to avoid conflicts of interest.
Blind trust is usually formal, technical, political, business in register.
Blind trust: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblaɪnd ˈtrʌst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblaɪnd ˈtrʌst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To take something on blind trust.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BLINDFOLDED person handing their wallet to a TRUSTED friend to manage their money without peeking.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUST IS VISION (Blind trust = trust without sight/seeing the evidence).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'blind trust' used as a precise legal term?