# Brandon

/ˈbɹændən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brandon
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man or a boy.

For teachers: a male given name of Old English or Irish origin, widely popular in North America during the late 20th century.

- Brandon decided to study engineering after he finished high school.
- Brandon was named after his grandfather, following a long-standing family tradition that spanned four generations.

### 2. a place name

noun · CEFR B1

the name of several towns and villages in the UK, US, and Canada.

For teachers: a common toponym for various settlements in English-speaking countries, most notably a city in Manitoba, Canada.

- The family took a road trip to visit their cousins in Brandon, Manitoba.
- The historic market town of Brandon in Suffolk is well-known for its long association with the flint-knapping industry.

### 3. political code for Joe Biden

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang · Informal

a name used in the phrase 'Let's Go Brandon' to insult US President Joe Biden without using a swear word.

For teachers: a euphemistic surrogate for Joe Biden, typically used within the phrase 'Let's Go Brandon' as a coded vulgarity.

- He wore a shirt with a 'Brandon' slogan to the political rally.
- The phrase 'Let's Go Brandon' originated from a televised sports interview and rapidly evolved into a ubiquitous shibboleth for anti-Biden sentiment.

Usage: Usually appears in the fixed phrase 'Let's Go Brandon'.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly political and potentially offensive; learners should be aware of its subtext before using it in social settings.

## Examples

- He wore a hat with a Brandon slogan on it.
- The phrase became a viral meme, allowing people to signal their political leanings using the name Brandon as a code.

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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.