# brainer

/ˈbɹeɪnɝ/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brainer
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a choice or decision that is so easy you do not even have to think about it. You use this when the right answer is very obvious.

For teachers: an easy or obvious decision that requires little to no mental effort. Informal in register; typically used in the phrase 'a no-brainer'.

## Examples

- Taking the job with a higher salary was a total brainer.
- With a fifty percent discount on the table, choosing that laptop was a complete no-brainer for me.
- While some critics argued over the technical specifications, most consumers found the upgraded model to be a no-brainer given its significantly lower price point and improved battery life.

## Pitfalls

- Not "It was a no brainer decision." but "It was a no-brainer." — The word is usually used as a noun on its own rather than as an adjective modifying another noun.

## Usage notes

- Almost exclusively used in the idiomatic compound 'no-brainer'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.