brunette: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Common, slightly formal/informal. 'Brunette' is standard; 'brunet' (male) is rare.
Quick answer
What does “brunette” mean?
A woman or girl with dark brown hair.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A woman or girl with dark brown hair.
A person (typically female) with dark brown hair; also used to describe the hair colour itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation are identical. Usage is largely the same, though 'brunette' may be more common in US media descriptions.
Connotations
Often used in fashion, media, and personal descriptions. Can imply a specific stereotype (e.g., contrasted with 'blonde').
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties; a common descriptive term.
Grammar
How to Use “brunette” in a Sentence
[be] a brunette[have] brunette hair[describe] as a brunetteVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brunette” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She has lovely brunette hair.
- He prefers brunette women.
American English
- She's the brunette candidate in the photo.
- His brunette daughter looks just like him.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific contexts like fashion or modelling.
Academic
Very rare; descriptive physical anthropology might use 'brown-haired'.
Everyday
Common for describing people's appearance.
Technical
Not used in technical/scientific registers.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brunette”
- Using 'brunette' for a man (non-standard).
- Misspelling as 'burnette' or 'brunet' for a woman.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not commonly. The standard term for a dark-haired man is 'brunet', but it is very rarely used. 'Dark-haired man' is the preferred phrasing.
Primarily, yes. However, it is often used as a noun to refer to a woman with dark brown hair (e.g., 'She's a brunette').
'Brunette' is more specific (dark brown, not light brown) and is almost exclusively used for females. 'Brown-haired' is neutral in gender and covers a broader range of brown shades.
No, it is a standard descriptive term. However, like any physical descriptor, context matters. Reducing a person solely to their hair colour ('the brunette') can sometimes be perceived as reductive.
A woman or girl with dark brown hair.
Brunette is usually common, slightly formal/informal. 'brunette' is standard; 'brunet' (male) is rare. in register.
Brunette: in British English it is pronounced /bruːˈnɛt/, and in American English it is pronounced /bruˈnɛt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'brunette' containing 'brun' which sounds like 'brown', and it ends with '-ette', a French suffix often used for feminine nouns.
Conceptual Metaphor
HAIR COLOUR IS A PERSONAL IDENTITY MARKER (e.g., 'the brunette at the bar').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate use of 'brunette'?