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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing brawn
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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The Outsiders
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "B"
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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.
General manager Bill Guerin prioritized size, brawn and checking prowess over elite scoring ability, which meant leaving several of America’s most dynamic offensive threats at home.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026
He’s just a schoolyard bully with less brawn and brain than he thinks, but excels at survival.
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2025
A source who had investigated the Maldera brothers told France 3 that Jean-Pierre had been the brain behind their schemes, while Robert had been the brawn.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2025
She’s the brains and brawn behind Bill’s Honey, sold at local stores.
From Seattle Times • May 26, 2024
“Had it not been for my superior brawn, she would have sacked my wagon. Finally she limped away from the fray, her glad rags askew.”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
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.
