brownfield

noun

brown·​field ˈbrau̇n-ˌfēld 

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

So far, most investments in Venezuela are in existing oil sites—brownfields, in industry parlance. — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 17 June 2026

So that was built for the 2012 Summer Olympics, purpose built area on a brownfield site that had a lot of the venues for the Olympics. — AFAR Media, 30 May 2026

The money is part of more than $15 million that the Lamont Administration awarded to a dozen communities with large brownfields cleanups. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 26 June 2026

In addition to brownfields, the law would apply to areas where environmental assessments have found levels of contaminants or pollutants above residential cleanup target levels set by local and state governments. — Megan Vaz, Sun Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for brownfield

• afield
• airfield
• annealed
• appealed
• coalfield
• concealed
• congealed
• cornfield
• downfield
• goldfield
• hayfield
• infield

Legal Definition

brownfield

noun

brown·​field ˈbrau̇n-ˌfēld 

: a tract of land that has been developed for industrial purposes, polluted, and then abandoned