B2 adjective Informal

braindead

/ˈbreɪnˌdɛd/

In a medical sense, it refers to the complete and irreversible cessation of all brain activity. Informally, it is used to describe a person who is acting extremely stupidly or someone who is exhausted and unable to think clearly.

Examples

3 of 5
1

After 10 hours of back-to-back meetings, I felt totally braindead.

After working for ten hours without a break, I was unable to think clearly.

2

The ethics committee met to discuss the protocol for patients declared braindead.

The committee discussed the rules for handling patients with no remaining brain function.

3

I can't believe you forgot your keys again; that was a braindead move!

It is hard to believe you forgot your keys; that was a very stupid mistake.

Word Family

Noun
brain death
Adjective
braindead
Related
brain-deadness
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Memory Tip

Think of a 'dead' battery in a 'brain'—nothing is running, and no signals are being sent.

Quick Quiz

After staying up all night to finish the project, Sarah felt completely ______ and couldn't even remember her own password.

Correct!

The correct answer is: braindead

Examples

1

After 10 hours of back-to-back meetings, I felt totally braindead.

everyday

After working for ten hours without a break, I was unable to think clearly.

2

The ethics committee met to discuss the protocol for patients declared braindead.

formal

The committee discussed the rules for handling patients with no remaining brain function.

3

I can't believe you forgot your keys again; that was a braindead move!

informal

It is hard to believe you forgot your keys; that was a very stupid mistake.

4

The research paper critiques the various clinical criteria used to define a braindead state.

academic

The academic article evaluates the medical standards for diagnosing a total loss of brain function.

5

Investing all our capital into a single volatile stock was a braindead management decision.

business

The management made a very unintelligent choice by putting all the money into one risky stock.

Word Family

Noun
brain death
Adjective
braindead
Related
brain-deadness

Common Collocations

clinically braindead medically confirmed to have no brain activity
feel braindead to feel mentally exhausted or unable to process information
braindead decision a choice that lacks any logical thought
braindead simple something that is so easy it requires no mental effort
braindead policy a rule or strategy that is perceived as nonsensical

Common Phrases

braindead simple

extremely easy to do or understand

declared braindead

officially stated by a doctor to have no brain function

totally braindead

completely exhausted or acting without any intelligence

Often Confused With

braindead vs brain-damaged

Brain-damaged implies the brain is hurt but still functioning, while braindead means all function has stopped.

braindead vs mindless

Mindless usually means acting without care or attention, whereas braindead suggests a total lack of capacity to think.

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Usage Notes

The word has two distinct registers: a very serious medical/legal sense and a very informal, often insulting, colloquial sense. In a professional environment, avoid using it to mean 'stupid' as it can be seen as insensitive to those in medical crises.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use this word in formal writing to mean 'tired,' which is inappropriate; it should only be used formally in medical or ethical contexts.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'dead' battery in a 'brain'—nothing is running, and no signals are being sent.

📖

Word Origin

Originating in the late 1960s and early 1970s alongside the development of intensive care technology that could maintain a heartbeat after brain function ceased.

Grammar Patterns

usually used as a predicative adjective (e.g., 'He is braindead') often modified by adverbs like 'totally' or 'clinically' non-gradable in medical context, but gradable in informal context
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Cultural Context

In many Western cultures, the definition of 'braindead' is the legal threshold for death, which is a significant topic in discussions regarding organ donation.

Quick Quiz

After staying up all night to finish the project, Sarah felt completely ______ and couldn't even remember her own password.

Correct!

The correct answer is: braindead

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