brain candy

noun

informal

: something that is entertaining but lacks seriousness or substance : mindless entertainment

One of the beauties of the car is the privacy to listen to popular novels—brain candy, if you will—that the women in my book group would sniff at.

—Jane Gross, New York Times, 10 Dec. 2000

People who dismiss TV reality shows as, at best, superficial brain candy are missing a fascinating character study and naturalist video extravaganza when they skip CBS's Survivor, the best, most popular and longest-lasting of the current reality game shows.

—Jonathan Storm, Philadelphia Inquirer, 21 Apr. 2005

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

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