Definition of BRAND (original) (raw)
1
a
: a charred piece of wood
c
: something (such as lightning) that resembles a firebrand
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
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
Synonyms
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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Hikers looking for a slightly more waterproof, breathable shell can fork over $30 extra for the _brand_’s (still extremely affordable) Rainier jacket. —Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024 My advice here is that brands need to diversify their identifier strategies to eliminate blind spots throughout the funnel. —Ivan Guzenko, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
He’s gotten under the skin of the government and been branded a domestic terrorist for his radical views. —Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024 Businesses previously geared toward a middle-aged audience might have to revamp their branding design to appeal to a younger, but still serious-minded, crowd. —Zaheer Dodhia, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brand 
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 19 Nov. 2024.
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Last Updated: 14 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences
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