Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

brainwash

/ˈbɹeɪnwɒʃ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.66 in modern English

Syllables
brain-wash
IPA
/ˈbɹeɪnwɒʃ/
17
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A distorting effect upon one's memory, belief, or ideas, as by propaganda.

verb

To affect one's mind by using extreme mental pressure or any other mind-affecting process. (e.g. hypnosis)

Transitive verb

verb

To take from an electronically controlled machine its stored-up information; to erase a computer's programming. (1960)

Dated; Transitive verb

verb

To persuade completely and forcibly.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From brain + wash, a calque of Chinese 洗腦 /洗脑 (xǐnǎo), literally to wash the brain. Usage via U.S. military during the Korean War.

Usage

Inflected Forms

brainwashes (plural) brain-wash (alternative) brain wash (alternative) brainwashes (present, singular) brainwashing (participle, present) brainwashed (participle, past) brainwashed (past)

Derived Forms

brainwashable brainwashedness brainwashee brainwasher brainwashy unbrainwash

Questions

How do you pronounce brainwash?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɹeɪnwɒʃ/.
What does brainwash mean?
A distorting effect upon one's memory, belief, or ideas, as by propaganda.
Where does brainwash come from?
From brain + wash, a calque of Chinese 洗腦 /洗脑 (xǐnǎo), literally to wash the brain. Usage via U.S. military during the Korean War.

How to pronounce brainwash

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “brainwash”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbɹeɪnwɒʃ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “brainwash”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “brainwash” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.