brownstone

noun

brown·​stone ˈbrau̇n-ˌstōn 

1

: a reddish-brown sandstone used for building

2

: a dwelling faced with brownstone

Examples of brownstone in a Sentence

She lives in a beautiful brownstone in Manhattan.

Recent Examples on the Web

The material and the high level of artisanal craftsmanship help break down the building’s scale and connect it to Cobble Hill’s historic brownstones. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 5 Jan. 2026

The post included photos of Legend standing with Esti and Luna on some snowy steps outside a brownstone, himself and Teigen posing with their kids by the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree at night, and Esti and Luna taking a horse ride through Central Park. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026

Back Bay is a historic neighborhood known for its historic brownstones. —Riley Rourke, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026

We were first introduced to Lily Allen and David Harbour’s four-story Carroll Gardens brownstone in an Architectural Digest tour in 2023. —Clio Chang, Curbed, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for brownstone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone
• dethrone

Kids Definition

brownstone

noun

brown·​stone ˈbrau̇n-ˌstōn 

1

: a reddish brown sandstone used for building

2

: a dwelling covered with a layer of brownstone