brain drain

noun

: the departure of educated or professional people from one country, economic sector, or field for another usually for better pay or living conditions

Examples of brain drain in a Sentence

Nothing has been done to stop the brain drain as more and more doctors move away from the area.
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.
Tulsa Remote has attracted more than 3,500 talented workers and their families to Oklahoma’s second-largest city, reversing decades of brain drain and revitalizing the city’s cultural and economic landscape. Christine Y. Cruzvergara, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025 The Journal’s board expressed concerns that Kennedy’s actions would result in a brain drain at HHS, citing the abrupt departure on Friday of Peter Marks, who led the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Joseph Choi, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025 One-year national service has been introduced to ensure all 18-year-olds receive military and vocational training—including, in a nod to the brain drain, for Bhutanese youth based overseas. By Charlie Campbell/gelephu, Bhutan, TIME, 16 Jan. 2025 However, that is where the good news ends for Chinese HR departments, for many of those graduates end up working in the United States, Japan or Europe, with brain drain affecting every business. Radu Magdin, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brain drain

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brain drain was in 1960

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Cite this Entry

“Brain drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20drain. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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