brown sugar

American  

noun

1. unrefined or partially refined sugar that retains some molasses.

2. a commercial product consisting of white, refined sugar to which molasses has been added.

3. Slang. brownish-colored heroin manufactured illicitly in Mexico.

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brown sugar British  

noun

1. sugar that is unrefined or only partially refined

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Etymology

Origin of brown sugar

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

The dry lake beds and bare mountains were cast in glow and shadow, the whole scene washed in cinnamon and brown sugar — earthy tones that felt almost edible.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Browned butter and brown sugar lend a molasses-tinged richness, while a drizzle of salted carrot caramel blurs the line between topping and filling, a glossy, amber ribbon that tastes like concentrated late-spring sun.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2025

“The irony … is that I love Pop-Tarts. I particularly love the brown sugar tarts. I probably eat too many of them,” Bevacqua said.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 12, 2025

Roasted apples, dusted with cinnamon and brown sugar, bring soft caramelized notes, while spoonfuls of apple butter introduce deep, sticky fruit flavor.

From Salon • Nov. 27, 2025

She spooned porridge into her mouth, found it to be bland, and scooped four heaping mounds of brown sugar into the gray mess.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas