brand-name

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbran(d)-ˈnām 

1

: of or relating to a brand name

brand-name products

2

: having a well-known and usually highly regarded or marketable name

brand-name authors

the … party lacks brand-name guests or good food

—Ryan Lizza

brand name

2 of 2

noun

1

: an arbitrarily adopted name that is given by a manufacturer or merchant to an article or service to distinguish it as produced or sold by that manufacturer or merchant and that may be used and protected as a trademark

2

: one having a well-known and usually highly regarded or marketable name

Examples of brand-name in a Sentence

Noun

The drug is sold under several brand names.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The standard edition of Merriam-Webster does not give us a lot of help with even the brand-name versions of these terms. —Louis Menand, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025

Instead of defaulting to brand-name items, look for dupes or cheaper alternatives. —Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2025

Noun

That is the ultimate goal, to be a brand name that can name a stadium. —Kansas City Star, 17 Dec. 2025

Shortening Shortening, most often referred to by our readers simply as the brand name Crisco, has been a Southern baking necessity for generations. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for brand-name

• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim
• doorframe
• exclaim
• inflame
• mainframe

Legal Definition

brand name

noun

: trade name