Blighting

Spoiling a stone of the opponent's, by leaving it too close to a strong position of yours at the end of a tactical sequence.

(Literally blight is a kind of fungus or rot that affects farmers' crops such as grain or vegetables.)^[1]

This position from BQM64 explains a common technique combining the dropping back and blighting concepts.

Black's ugly play  

here is no good as a way to cut. After Black shouldn't continue.

White's first option  

If Black persists, this sequence already leaves blighted. Black has caused problems for himself.

Charles Matthews

A common joseki  

In this common joseki, is left next to strong black stones, and so is blighted. Losing this stone is the price white pays for making territory on the top side. In this case, is not a mistake. This is joseki.

More information here.

/discussion

See also:

• Ignore the blighted stones
• Blighted stones have little use
• Squeezing Out the Toothpaste
• Family feud

[1] If you blight an opponent's stone, are you a blighter? ;-)