brawn
Americannoun
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strong, well-developed muscles.
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muscular strength.
- Synonyms:
- power, might, sturdiness, muscle, robustness, brawniness
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Chiefly British.
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a boar's or swine's flesh, especially when boiled and pickled.
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noun
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strong well-developed muscles
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physical strength, esp as opposed to intelligence
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a seasoned jellied loaf made from the head and sometimes the feet of a pig or calf
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
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.
Practices focus more on brain than brawn, emphasizing the strategy, reads and fine-tuned execution that might decide close games.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025
The Wallaroos came with brain as well as brawn, poking holes with kicks in behind England's defence.
From BBC • Sep. 6, 2025
He’s just a schoolyard bully with less brawn and brain than he thinks, but excels at survival.
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2025
She’s the brains and brawn behind Bill’s Honey, sold at local stores.
From Seattle Times • May 26, 2024
She saves a few shillings from her wages taking care of Mr. Sliney to buy bread, ham, brawn, cheese, lemonade and a few bottles of stout.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
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.
