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

Statistics hint at a brain drain coinciding with the Orbán regime. —Alexander Smith, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026

Others think Davie’s ruthless headcount reductions led to a brain drain, which in turn precipitated editorial errors that ultimately led to his resignation. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026

For some, these professors’ career-changing decisions warn of a brain drain — a mass exodus of Texas’ most intellectually capable. —Milla Surjadi, Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026

From April 2020 to July 2025, 182,000 residents fled to other states, causing a demographic decline and a serious brain drain. —Betsy McCaughey, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for brain drain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign