brainteaser: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, sometimes playful; common in spoken English, popular media, and puzzle/game contexts.
Quick answer
What does “brainteaser” mean?
A problem or puzzle that is designed to challenge one's intelligence or mental agility.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A problem or puzzle that is designed to challenge one's intelligence or mental agility.
Any problem, riddle, or task that requires creative, logical, or non-obvious thinking to solve. In extended use, can refer metaphorically to any perplexing or difficult situation that demands mental effort to understand.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical. Spelling is occasionally hyphenated (brain-teaser) slightly more often in British English, but the one-word form dominates in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical: implies a lighthearted challenge rather than a serious academic or professional problem.
Frequency
Equally common and familiar in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “brainteaser” in a Sentence
NP + posed/asked + a brainteasersolve/answer + a brainteaserThis/That + is a brainteaserVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informally used in team-building or problem-solving workshops to describe a non-work-specific puzzle used to stimulate creative thinking.
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. May appear in educational contexts, psychology (studies on problem-solving), or recreational mathematics.
Everyday
Very common in casual conversation, family games, newspaper puzzle sections, and social media challenges.
Technical
Not a technical term. In computer science or logic, terms like 'NP-complete problem' or 'logic puzzle' would be used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brainteaser”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “brainteaser”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brainteaser”
- Using as a verb (e.g., 'It brainteasers me'). Incorrect.
- Spelling as two words: 'brain teaser'.
- Using it for extremely serious or distressing intellectual problems.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always written as one word ('brainteaser') in modern English, though the hyphenated form 'brain-teaser' is also considered correct.
A riddle is often phrased as a question or statement with a double meaning, typically using wordplay. A brainteaser is broader and includes logic puzzles, math problems, and visual puzzles that may not rely on linguistic trickery.
It is informal. In formal academic or professional contexts, more specific terms like 'logical puzzle', 'conundrum', or 'problem-solving task' are preferred.
No, 'brainteaser' is exclusively a noun. You cannot say 'It brainteases me'. Instead, use phrases like 'It puzzles me' or 'It is a brainteaser for me'.
A problem or puzzle that is designed to challenge one's intelligence or mental agility.
Brainteaser: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪnˌtiːzə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪnˌtiːzər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a real brainteaser.”
- “That'll give your brain a teaser!”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of your BRAIN being TEASED by a puzzle, like a cat teasing a ball of yarn – it's playful but requires effort to unravel.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A MACHINE (that can be exercised/puzzled/teased). A PROBLEM IS A KNOT (to be untied).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of a brainteaser?