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brainpower

American  
[breyn-pou-er] / ˈbreɪnˌpaʊ ər /

noun

  1. intellectual capacity; mental ability.

  2. people with superior mental abilities.

    an emergency medical conference of all available brainpower.
brainpower British  
/ ˈbreɪnˌpaʊə /

noun

  1. intelligence; mental ability

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of brainpower

First recorded in 1875–80; brain + power

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.

The theme of season 2 is “Strong vs. Smart,” pitting 100 athletically inclined contestants against 100 contestants who run on brainpower.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

But there’s an understanding, even in largely conservative regions, that immigrants with papers and without are a crucial part of the muscle and brainpower that help drive the world’s fourth-largest economy.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 27, 2025

Walking 7,000 steps a day can be enough to boost your brainpower and help protect against a range of different diseases, a major study suggests.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025

A city known worldwide for brainpower and innovation must have a school district that mirrors those values.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 29, 2024

For the next few days, Jake focused on not revealing his newfound brainpower.

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.