brand

BRAND/bɹænd/

Pluralbrands

Verbbrands, branding, branded

17 meanings of brand

Practice

1
nouncountable
The name a company uses for its products, and the products themselves, like a brand of coffee.
Which brand of toothpaste do you use?
This brand of sneakers is cheaper than the others.
UsageSay a brand of coffee. For cars, you can also say make.
Similarmake, label
2
put logo onverbtransitive
To give a product a name, logo, and look so people know it.
Like putting your own label on something so everyone knows it's yours.
They branded the new drink with a bright red logo.
The company wants to brand its app as fun and easy.
UsageSay they branded it as a cheap choice.
Similarmarket, position, promote, label
Note
3
public imagenouncountable
The public image and usual style of a person or group.
Like the picture that pops into people's heads when they think of you.
The singer's brand is all about being honest and down to earth.
Politicians work hard to protect their brand.
UsageSay something is on-brand if it fits a person's image.
Similarname, reputation
Note
4
typenouncountable
A certain type or style of something.
Like your own special flavor of doing things.
He has his own brand of humor that not everyone gets.
Their brand of music mixes rock and jazz.
UsageSay his brand of humor, meaning his kind.
Similarkind, type, sort, variety, style
Note

Less common meanings

5
burned marknouncountable
A mark burned into an animal's skin with a hot iron to show who owns it.
Like writing your name on something so people know it's yours.
The rancher checked the brand on each cow.
Every calf got a brand before it was sold.
Similarmark, stamp
Note
6
verbtransitive
To burn a mark into an animal's or a person's skin with a hot iron.
Like stamping a name onto something so everyone knows whose it is.
The cowboys branded the cattle every spring.
They brand each calf with the ranch's symbol.
7
label someoneverbtransitive
To call someone or something by a bad name that is hard to lose, often unfairly.
Like sticking a label on someone that won't peel off.
The newspaper branded him a liar.
Don't brand her a cheat without proof.
UsageSay they branded him a liar.
Similarlabel, stigmatize, denounce, dub, tag
Note
8
shamenouncountable
A lasting mark of shame on someone's name.
Like a stain that never washes out.
The scandal left a brand on the family for years.
He carried the brand of a traitor all his life.
Similarstigma, stain, taint, blot, mark
9
stick in mindverbtransitive
To stick so firmly in someone's memory that it cannot be forgotten.
Like pressing a stamp so hard the mark never comes off.
The terrible accident branded itself on her memory forever.
Fear can brand a single moment into your mind for life.
UsageSay a picture is branded on your mind.
Similarsear, etch, imprint, engrave, burn
Note
10
marking ironnouncountable
A hot iron tool used to burn a mark into an animal's skin.
Like a stamp, but heated red-hot so the mark never comes off.
The rancher heated the brand in the fire before marking each calf.
At the museum, an old brand once used on a cattle ranch hung on the wall.
Similariron
11
burning woodnounarchaic
A burning or glowing piece of wood or coal pulled from a fire.
Like a piece of wood from a fire that still glows red.
She pulled a glowing brand from the campfire to light her way.
The fearful brands and bleezes of het fire.
1513, Gavin Douglas, The EneadosHere, brands means burning pieces of wood from a fire.
Note
12
nounobsolete
A flame, or a tongue of burning fire.
Is yet againe thy brest enflamde, / with brande of venus might
1559, Jasper Heywood, TroasHere, brand means a flame or fire.
Goe to prepare the maryages what neede the torchis light? be holde the towres of troy do shyne with brandes that blase full bright.
1559, Jasper Heywood, TroasHere, brandes means bright flames of fire.
Note
13
nounobsolete
A large, destructive fire that spreads widely.
Note
14
nounarchaic
A sword used as a weapon for fighting.
Paradise, so late their happy seat, / Waved over by that flaming brand.
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, brand means a sword, a weapon for fighting.
Note
15
noundialectalNorthern EnglandScotland
A burning torch held up to send signals to people far away.
16
noundated
A tiny fungus that makes plant leaves look burned or scorched.
17
verbrare
To be extremely hot, or to burn fiercely.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of brand apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English brand, meaning fire, flame, torch, or sword. It goes back to older Germanic words for burning.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

English brand descends from Old English brand. kaikki.org
Old English brand meant fire, flame, torch, or sword. kaikki.org
The word derives from older Germanic vocabulary associated with burning. en.wiktionary.org