non-brown
|non-brown|
🇺🇸
/nɑnˈbraʊn/
🇬🇧
/nɒnˈbraʊn/
not brown
Etymology
'non-brown' originates from combining the prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'brown'. 'non-' comes from Latin 'non', meaning 'not', and 'brown' comes from Old English 'brūn' (from Proto-Germanic *brūnaz) meaning the color brown.
'non-' has been used as a negative prefix in English since Old and Middle English (from Latin by way of Old French usage), while 'brown' evolved from Old English 'brūn' and related Germanic forms into the modern adjective 'brown'. The compound 'non-brown' is a modern, transparent formation combining these elements.
Initially, the prefix-element and the color term each retained their original meanings ('not' + 'brown'); the compound's meaning has remained a straightforward negation: 'not brown'. In modern usage, it can also be extended metaphorically or socially (e.g., demographic descriptions).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not brown in color; of a color other than brown.
The curtains are non-brown; they appear more gray than brown.
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Adjective 2
used (sometimes in demographic or sociological contexts) to describe people or groups who are not identified as 'brown' in terms of skin color or ethnicity. Usage can be sensitive and context-dependent.
The researchers compared health outcomes between brown and non-brown populations.
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Last updated: 2025/08/24 20:13