brainy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "brainy" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who is very intelligent or clever. Example: "She is known for her brainy ideas that often lead to innovative solutions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sydney is playing host to three festivals of the mind this week as Australia's biggest city showcases its brainy side.

The Guardian

It's the kind of brainy computing that Tharp does so well.

The Guardian

ABB, a Swiss-Swedish engineering giant, has also developed brainy software that tracks grid flows several times a second and feeds the information to control systems that can respond within a minute or so.

The Economist

Business Week wrote that it "spawned a mini-industry of brainy consulting boutiques … you could plot a strategy that would safely steer your company to uninterrupted triumph if only you thought hard enough .By the late 1980s, however, strategic planning had gone out of fashion.

The Economist

Nonetheless, some brainy people at the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN body charged with saving the starving, think they could save more people by using arcane financial instruments.A typical famine might unfold like this.

The Economist

Another is that brainy people are intrinsically healthier than those less intellectually endowed.

The Economist

To his old party he was a turncoat, to his new one something of a foreign body: a banker's son, rather too obviously convinced that he knew best, and inclined to irritate less brainy comrades with such habits as quoting Rilke in French.

The Economist

The low-skill assembly jobs and the middle-class lives they provided may be leaving for Asian shores, but the brainy, wealth-creating parts of the process the design, the engineering, the marketing were firmly rooted in Silicon Valley.

The Economist

His main task now is to re-equip the armed forces with submarines, fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft, awarding contracts that could be worth $40 billion, avoiding both the graft and indecision that have long frustrated plans for military modernisation.Another welcome figure is Suresh Prabhu, a brainy man partial to baggy jumpers.

The Economist

Urbane, brainy and funny, he seemed the embodiment of Poland's hoped-for future.

The Economist

It also underlines the success of the modest and brainy Mr Dombrovskis, who piloted Latvia out of the economic turmoil caused by the oligarch parties' recklessness.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone as "brainy", ensure the context aligns with the positive connotation of intelligence and cleverness. Avoid using it sarcastically or in contexts where intelligence is not necessarily a desirable trait.

Common error

While "brainy" is widely understood, it can sound informal or even slightly colloquial in certain professional or academic settings. Opt for more formal alternatives like "intelligent" or "intellectually gifted" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "brainy" functions primarily as an adjective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes someone or something possessing high intelligence or cleverness. Examples show its use in diverse contexts to characterize individuals, ideas, and even software.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "brainy" is a common and widely understood adjective used to describe someone or something with high intelligence or cleverness. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English. While its grammatical status is correct, it's important to consider the context. "Brainy" is most frequently found in news and media but also appears in formal and business settings. For more formal contexts, it's advisable to use alternatives such as "intelligent" or "astute". While "brainy" is acceptable in many situations, awareness of register ensures effective communication. Its prevalence in authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian underscores its established usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Highly intelligent

This alternative directly emphasizes the high level of intelligence.

Intellectually gifted

This alternative highlights a natural talent or aptitude for intellectual pursuits.

Exceptionally clever

This alternative stresses quick-wittedness and ingenuity.

Remarkably astute

This alternative emphasizes keen awareness and insight.

Possessing great intellect

This alternative is a more formal way of expressing high intelligence.

Endowed with brilliance

This alternative suggests a natural gift of exceptional intelligence.

A sharp mind

This alternative focuses on the quickness and clarity of thought.

Academically accomplished

This alternative highlights success in educational or scholarly settings.

A genius

This alternative indicates an extremely high level of intellectual ability.

Smart as a whip

This alternative is an idiom that means someone is very quick and intelligent.

FAQs

How can I use "brainy" in a sentence?

You can use "brainy" to describe someone intelligent, like "She's the "brainiest" student in class" or "He's known for his "brainy ideas"".

What's a more formal synonym for "brainy"?

While "brainy" is fine in many contexts, consider alternatives such as "intelligent", "intellectual", or "astute" for formal writing.

Is it okay to use "brainy" in academic writing?

While understandable, "brainy" might be too informal for academic papers. Opt for words like "erudite", "scholarly", or "knowledgeable" for a more appropriate tone.

How does "brainy" compare to "smart" or "clever"?

"Brainy" emphasizes intellectual capacity, similar to "smart" and "clever". However, "brainy" might imply a higher degree of academic or intellectual prowess, whereas "smart" and "clever" can also refer to practical intelligence.