1
: a reddish-brown sandstone used for building
2
: a dwelling faced with brownstone

Examples of brownstone in a Sentence

She lives in a beautiful brownstone in Manhattan.
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.
Keep an eye for a price drop on this otherwise pleasant brownstone duplex. — Nora Deligter, Curbed, 23 Oct. 2026 All of this excitement surrounds a 1,000-pound—give or take—pumpkin that graces the stoop of a brownstone in the Brooklyn neighborhood each year. — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 New York City's brownstone rowhouses, named for their reddish-brown sandstone facades, were primarily built in the latter half of the 19th century. — Sophie Caldwell,valentina Duarte, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 The couple had purchased their extra-wide, 3,600-square-foot house after realizing their initial dream, a historic brownstone, felt a little too compressed. — Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brownstone

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brownstone was in 1846

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brownstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brownstone. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: a reddish brown sandstone used for building
2
: a dwelling covered with a layer of brownstone
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster