brain drain

noun

: the departure of educated or professional people from one country, economic sector, or field for another usually for better pay or living conditions

Examples of brain drain in a Sentence

Nothing has been done to stop the brain drain as more and more doctors move away from the area.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These closures risk a severe brain drain. — Jennie L. Durant, The Conversation, 26 May 2026 The result is a slow, compounding brain drain that weakens local talent pools and forces local employers to recruit from elsewhere at high cost. — Byron V. Garrett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The lack of investment in public services and institutions goes back at least 15 years, alongside the brain drain that’s taken place in Venezuela. — Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026 Wilkes-Barre had lost its élan after a valley-wide flood in 1972; the brain drain of my generation off to college; a hollowing out of industry. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for brain drain

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brain drain was in 1960

Rhymes for brain drain

See All Rhymes for brain drain

Browse Nearby Words

brain death
brain drain
brain dump
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brain drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20drain. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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