1
a
: having the color of wood or chocolate
especially
: of the color brown (see brown entry 2 sense 1)
a brown cow
brown eyes and hair
as brown as the oak leaves
b
: having dark or tanned skin
Their hands and faces were brown from long days in the sun.
2
or less commonly Brown
: of or relating to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin
Black and brown Americans
plural browns
1
: any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue, of medium to low lightness, and of moderate to low saturation
2
browns also Browns plural
: people belonging to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin
Note: The plural noun browns is used mostly in phrases referring to multiple population groups.
3
browned; browning; browns
: to become brown
: to make brown
Cite this Entry
“Brown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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