no-brainer

American  

[noh-bray-ner] / ˈnoʊˈbreɪ nər /

noun

1. Informal. anything requiring little thought or effort; something easy or simple to understand or do.

---

no-brainer British  

/ ˌnəʊˈbreɪnə /

noun

1. slang something which requires little or no mental effort

---

no-brainer Cultural  

1. Something that is absurdly simple or easy and requires little thought: “Making pumpkin pie can be a no-brainer if you use frozen pastry and canned filling.”

---

Etymology

Origin of no-brainer

First recorded in 1975–80

Explanation

An obvious conclusion or an easy decision is a no-brainer. Adding 2 + 2 is a no-brainer, and so is the decision to accept a generous scholarship. The informal no-brainer describes choices that are so clear they're hardly even choices: they require almost no thought, since one alternative is obviously better. Saying yes to the the prize of a trip for four to Disney World is a no-brainer, and when you're shopping for a new laptop, buying the one with more memory that's less expensive is a no-brainer. No-brainer stems from the idea that it doesn't take brains to make a decision so simple.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

no-brainer

"So Charley was a no-brainer, and then finishing strong with Carlota. As we know, she's done it in the past."

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

Justin Eshak, the Island Records co-chief who signed the Shakes after putting out “What Now,” says going into business with the reactivated band was a no-brainer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

That means that if the availability of electricity comes into question, abandoning old chips may become a no-brainer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

It’s a good month for Disney+ programming — add Hulu and it becomes a no-brainer.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

Surely the crowd must know that this fight's going to be a no-brainer.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• cakewalk
• cinch