blanks

Blanks is the plural of blank and is used in several related senses that center on emptiness, placeholders, or precursors. In everyday language, a blank means an empty space or an unfilled field in forms, documents, or data entry. In writing and printing, blanks can refer to spaces or placeholder characters left to be filled later, and the term is common in phrases such as fill-in-the-blank exercises.

In manufacturing and crafts, blanks are preliminary, rough-form pieces that will be finished into a final product. Examples include wooden blanks, metal blanks, or plastic blanks that are machined, engraved, or shaped into a completed item. The concept also appears in design workflows where a template or blank slate serves as the starting point.

Blanks also describes a type of ammunition used in film, theater, and training: blank cartridges contain propellant but no projectile. When fired, they produce a muzzle flash and sound for realism while avoiding a bullet. Safety considerations are essential when handling blanks to prevent injury.

In sports and games, to blank someone or to be blanked means to prevent scoring or to end a game with no points for one side. For example, a team may be said to have been blanked 2–0 by its opponents. The term is used more broadly to indicate an absence of content or results in various evaluative contexts.

Overall, blanks denote an initial or empty state that is intended to be filled, completed, or realized through subsequent action.