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
This season builds to their biggest day of the year — 4.20 — as the gang attempts to expand nationwide and release their own top-shelf cannabis brand. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2024 This collectible plushie is part of the brand’s Fantasy Squad line and is machine washable. Maya Polton, Parents, 18 Mar. 2024 Instead of relying on machine manufacturing, artisans make each component—plus all the molds and other tools used to produce them—by hand at the brand’s factory in Normandy. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Mar. 2024 Supply shortages, such as for sugar and cocoa, will force price increases for Oreos and Ritz, and grocery stores may want to nudge customers towards their own cheaper private brands by keeping name brand costs higher. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 In a purposefully photoshopped ad for her mocktail brand Betty Buzz, an image of Lively was superimposed over a pool background with her hands enlarged and a lemon floating in the air. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2024 The removal process was easy with the lighter polish soaking off in 5 seconds for each nail using the brand’s removal product. Kate Watson, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Travers attributes the brand’s success to the channel’s original mission: producing accessible content. Joshua Berlinger, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 Walmart is having a patio furniture sale just in time for warmer weather, with sets for up to 59 percent off from brands like Better Homes & Gardens and Costway. Bridget Degnan, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
Riley was branded twice; the first one was accidentally upside down. Sarah Quiñones Wolfson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024 Accounts branded with 764 were prevalent on Instagram, where users posted graphic images. Ali Winston, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 The branding agreements penned under Branson’s empire have proved to be a boon for the tycoon in previous acquisitions. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 11 Mar. 2024 In the past, microbreweries and craft beer companies have used the likeness of ’90s hip-hop icons and sports teams to brand their products, sometimes without licensing, Croxall said. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 Team Coco, which was acquired by SiriusXM in 2022, includes digital and branded content, live events, merchandise and other production. Michael Schneider, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 South then branded himself as a notrump hog by jumping to 2NT. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024 Ben Affleck’s iteration of the superhero was one who branded criminals and even killed some of his enemies. Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 The Sundance Film Festival, held in Park City every January, is the institute’s most public-facing entity, now known as much for branding opportunities and celebrity sightings as for groundbreaking movies. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 6 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 28 Mar. 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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