brawn

American  

[brawn] / brɔn /

noun

1. strong, well-developed muscles.

2. muscular strength.

   Synonyms:

   power, might, sturdiness, muscle, robustness, brawniness

3. Chiefly British.

   1. a boar's or swine's flesh, especially when boiled and pickled.

   2. headcheese.

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brawn British  

/ brɔːn /

noun

1. strong well-developed muscles

2. physical strength, esp as opposed to intelligence

3. a seasoned jellied loaf made from the head and sometimes the feet of a pig or calf

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Etymology

Origin of brawn

1275–1325; Middle English brawne < Old French braon slice of flesh ( Provençal bradon ) < Germanic; compare German Braten joint of meat, akin to Old English brǣd flesh

Explanation

Brawn means muscular strength. Brawn is thought of as the opposite of brains, but let’s face it — people can be strong and smart! No matter how smart you are, though, you must have big muscles to have brawn. The word brawn is from the Old French word braon, which means “fleshy or muscular part,” referring to a part of an animal that people cook and eat. British English still uses brawn to mean meat, headcheese in particular. In American English, brawn refers to strength and heft. You may also have heard the adjective brawny, meaning strong and muscular.

Example Sentences

Button won the drivers’ title—and the Brawn team eventually morphed into modern Mercedes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

The classic example remains the 2009 season, when Brawn GP exploited an aerodynamic loophole with an innovation known as a “double diffuser.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026

The only time that had not been the case before then in the modern era was Brawn in 2009, and those were exceptional circumstances.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

"The Neotropics alone are home to 40% of the world's bird species. Anyone who cares about birds should care about what's happening in the tropics," Brawn said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2024

That wonderful Age of Brain passed out, giving place to the Age of Brawn!

From The Sequel What the Great War will mean to Australia by Taylor, George A. (George Augustine)