brain fart

American

[brayn fahrt] / ˈbreɪn ˌfɑrt /

noun

Slang:

a brief mental lapse, especially an instance of forgetfulness or confusion.

I had a brief brain fart and introduced him by the wrong name.

Etymology

Origin of brain fart

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

brain fart

While the risks and horrors of dementia are serious, the occasional brain fart, particularly when we're sleep-deprived or stressed, shouldn't be something to get even more sleep-deprived and stressed about.

From Salon ● Feb. 9, 2024

I screwed up the solo thanks to a huge brain fart.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2023

The "cucumber" moment was a "brain fart" because it was one of her first appearances on live television and she was nervous, she added.

From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2020

You can tell by the end of the round, it was just a total brain fart at that point.

From Slate ● Jan. 15, 2020

Maybe it was just a common everyday brain fart.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023