brownfield

noun

brown·​field ˈbrau̇n-ˌfēld How to pronounce brownfield (audio)
often attributive
: a tract of land that has been developed for industrial purposes, polluted, and then abandoned

Examples of brownfield in a Sentence

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.
About $50 million worth of solar panels will appear on Maryland Department of Transportation parking lots and brownfields in the coming years, paid for with money from a state renewable energy fund that has been in the news recently. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2026 Investors in data centers have been drawn to the brownfield sites, where there is abundant natural gas to power them and water from the Ohio River to cool them. Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026 Smaller brownfield expansions, compression upgrades and lateral connections now carry more value than headline-grabbing greenfield projects. Bryce Erickson, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026 Given its past, it was classified as a brownfield — a federal and state classification given to sites that could have hazardous substances or contaminants. Amelia Pak-Harvey, IndyStar, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brownfield

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brownfield was in 1977

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brownfield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brownfield. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.

Legal Definition

brownfield

noun
brown·​field ˈbrau̇n-ˌfēld How to pronounce brownfield (audio)
: a tract of land that has been developed for industrial purposes, polluted, and then abandoned
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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