brand

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a charred piece of wood
c
: something (such as lightning) that resembles a firebrand
2
: sword
3
a(1)
: a mark made by burning with a hot iron to attest manufacture or quality or to designate ownership
(2)
: a printed mark made for similar purposes : trademark
b(1)
: a mark put on criminals with a hot iron
(2)
: a mark of disgrace : stigma
the brand of poverty
4
a
: a class of goods identified by name as the product of a single firm or manufacturer : make
b
: a characteristic or distinctive kind
a lively brand of theater
d
: a public image, reputation, or identity conceived of as something to be marketed or promoted
Future political offices or appointments appear out of the question now, so he is focusing on rebuilding his brand in Hollywood …Elizabeth McNeil et al.
The comedian Dane Cook apparently believes he is building his brand by pumping out a steady stream of comments on Twitter …Daniel Lyons
5
: a tool used to produce a brand

brand

2 of 2

verb

branded; branding; brands

transitive verb

1
: to mark with a brand
2
: to mark with disapproval : stigmatize
he was branded a coward
3
: to impress indelibly
brand the lesson on his mind
brander noun

Examples of brand in a Sentence

Noun What brand are those jeans you are wearing? The store sells a variety of shoe brands. I don't like his brand of humor. a lively brand of theater Verb They no longer brand their cattle. The exact words my father spoke on my graduation day are branded in my memory.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The facial is $75 flat, but the brand does offer a monthly $60 members-only discount, which includes one facial a month and a few other perks like one guest pass per year and 15% off retail products. Annie Blay, Allure, 11 Apr. 2024 The latest brand to join the mix is Opill, the new over-the-counter birth control pill produced by pharmaceutical company Perrigo. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024 Both brands were acquired by other companies and faltered under their new owners. Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024 The brand isn’t tied to buzzy celebrity chefs, nor does the price point reflect the current trendiness of chili crisp. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024 Just check out the new styles of the brand’s PA 4 kicks that feature palm trees stitched on the sides. Marques Harper, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024 This expression is available now on a limited basis, and according to the brand this iteration includes some much older whiskey in the blend. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024 Natalie Boisset, general director of Boisset Family Wines, likes to buy wines from Nuits-Saint-Georges because her family, which has been established in the appellation for 50 years, already has three parcels there under its Jean-Claude Boisset brand. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2024 Tesla is opening its 15,000-charger nationwide DCFC network to drivers of other brands. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
Verb
There was even a storyline in Season 12, which aired in 2016, when Kris contemplated changing her last name back to Kardashian for branding purposes and the star power the last name has amassed. Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024 The Democratic National Committee hired Lis Smith, a veteran communications operative, and tasked her with branding Mr. Kennedy as a pro-Trump spoiler candidate. Rebecca Davis O’Brien, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024 World & Nation Rescuers in Taiwan search for missing or stranded people after major earthquake kills 10 April 4, 2024 The museum was housed on a plain business campus with none of the ostentation and branding excess of American tech campuses. Frank Shyong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024 The surprise announcement of the November bond referendum during Levine Cava’s State of the County speech on Jan. 24 quickly was branded a tax-and-spend proposal by the Democratic mayor running for reelection this year. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024 Three weeks later, Papini reappeared on the side of a highway in Yolo County, bruised and emaciated, with her long blond hair sheared short and right shoulder branded. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024 In September 2021, Foster and wife Kasha opened KP Mart Shell branded gas station at 2736 Freedom Drive in Charlotte. Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024 Florida Theme Parks There are numerous unique and exciting theme parks in Florida not branded Disney or Universal Studios. Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024 Disillusion with work—or as some may see it, a work-shy tendency—isn’t a fair stereotype to brand across all young talent, the founders feel. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brand.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, torch, sword, from Old English; akin to Old English bærnan to burn

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brand was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near brand

Cite this Entry

“Brand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brand. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

brand

1 of 2 noun
1
: a burnt or burning piece of wood
2
a
: a mark made by burning (as on cattle) to show ownership, maker, or quality
b
: a printed mark made for similar purposes : trademark
3
a
: a mark once put on criminals with a hot iron
b
: a mark of disgrace : stigma
4
a
: a class of goods identified as the product of a single maker
b
: a particular kind : variety

brand

2 of 2 verb
1
: to mark with or as if with a brand
2
: to describe or identify with a word that expresses disapproval
was branded a coward

More from Merriam-Webster on brand

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