brand new

/ˌbrænd ˈnuː/
completely new

She bought a brand new car yesterday.

The car had never been used before.


informal

completely new; unused or never having been worn or used

I found a brand new pair of shoes in the back of the closet.

The shoes had never been worn.

This is a brand new laptop with no scratches.

The laptop is in perfect, unused condition.

Often used to emphasize that something is in perfect condition or has never been used before. Can also describe something that is very new in terms of time (e.g., a brand new trend).

Collocations

brand new cara car that has never been drivenbrand new clothesclothes that have never been wornbrand new ideaa completely new concept

Related Phrases

factory freshphrase
in perfect condition straight from the factory
hot off the pressphrase
very new, just published or produced

Pro Tip

Avoid redundancy

While 'brand new' is common, avoid pairing it with other intensifiers like 'completely' or 'absolutely' unless for humorous or emphatic effect (e.g., 'This is absolutely brand new!' in a sarcastic tone).

Gold Rule

Literal vs. Figurative

'Brand new' is always used literally to describe something that is physically new or unused. It does not have a figurative or idiomatic meaning.

Word Origin

The phrase 'brand new' combines 'brand' (from Old English 'brand' meaning 'firebrand' or 'torch', later associated with marking ownership by burning) and 'new' (from Old English 'neowe', meaning 'recently made or created'). The phrase emerged in Middle English as 'brand newe', emphasizing something so new it was unmarked or untainted.

Usage Notes

The phrase is often used hyperbolically in marketing to emphasize the novelty or freshness of a product. It can also describe abstract concepts like ideas or trends. Avoid redundancy by not using it with 'completely' or 'absolutely' unless for emphasis.

Word Breakdown

brand
completely or perfectly
adjective
+
new
recently made or created; not old
adjective
English Dictionary