# branded

/ˈbɹændɪd/ (US) · /bɹˈændɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/branded
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to label someone negatively

verb · CEFR B1

to describe someone as being something bad, like a liar or a criminal, in a way that is hard to change.

For teachers: to assign a lasting and typically pejorative label to a person or group. Often used in the passive voice with 'as'.

- After the scandal, he was branded a liar by the local newspapers.
- The whistleblower was unfairly branded a traitor by his former colleagues, despite his efforts to protect the public interest.

Usage: Often follows the pattern 'to be branded as [noun/adjective]'.

### 2. to mark a product

verb · CEFR B2

to put a company name or logo on a product so people know who made it.

For teachers: to apply a brand name, logo, or trademark to a product or service to establish a market identity.

- The company branded all their pens with the new blue logo.
- The marketing team insisted that every piece of promotional material be consistently branded to ensure immediate recognition by consumers.

Usage: Transitive verb taking a direct object.

### 3. made by a famous company

adjective · CEFR B1

describing a product made by a well-known company rather than a cheap, generic version.

For teachers: denoting a product manufactured by a specific company under a particular name, typically contrasted with generic or store-brand goods.

- Branded goods are often more expensive than the supermarket's own version.
- The pharmacy offers both branded medications and cheaper generic alternatives that contain the same active ingredients.

## Examples

- The media branded him a liar after the interview.
- After the company failed to pay its workers on time, it was branded as unreliable by the local community.
- In the wake of the scandal, the politician found himself branded a traitor by his former allies, a label that effectively ended his career in public service.

---

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.