Noun

Singular brand

Plural brands

brand (plural brands)

1. (archaic or poetic) A piece of wood red-hot, or still burning, from the fire.
2. (archaic) A sword.
3. A mark of ownership made by burning, e.g. on cattle.
4. A branding iron.
5. (advertising) A name, symbol, logo, or other item used to distinguish a product or manufacturer from its competitors.
6. A specific product or manufacturer so distinguished.

   Some brands of breakfast cereal have more sugar than is really healthy.

7. Any specific type or variety of something; a distinct style, manner.

   I didn't appreciate his particular brand of flattery.

8. (advertising) A product's attributes — name, appearance, reputation, and so on — taken collectively and abstractly.

   The company still has to do more to build the brand.

Derived terms

• brand awareness
• brand image
• brand linkage
• brand name
• brand stretch
• branding
• branding moment
• own brand

A brand is the identity of a specific product, service, or business. A brand can take many forms, including a name, sign, symbol, color combination or slogan. The word brand began simply as a way to tell one person's cattle from another by means of a hot iron stamp. A legally protected brand name is called a trademark. The word brand has continued to evolve to encompass identity - it affects the personality of a product, company or service.