brain drain

noun

: the departure of educated or professional people from one country, economic sector, or field for another usually for better pay or living conditions

Examples of brain drain in a Sentence

Nothing has been done to stop the brain drain as more and more doctors move away from the area.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The result is a slow, compounding brain drain that weakens local talent pools and forces local employers to recruit from elsewhere at high cost. Byron V. Garrett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The lack of investment in public services and institutions goes back at least 15 years, alongside the brain drain that’s taken place in Venezuela. Whitney Eulich, Christian Science Monitor, 26 June 2026 Alphabet shares slipped 5%, notching their worst daily performance in over a year, as brain drain concerns mounted following the departure of two high-profile AI researchers for rivals. Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 June 2026 These moves seek to address the brain drain of top technical talent following the invasion of Ukraine by playing to a traditional Russian strength—upskilling members of a population of some 140 million people, which has historically seen success in the mathematical sciences. Nikita Ostrovsky, Time, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for brain drain

Word History

First Known Use

1960, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brain drain was in 1960

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Cite this Entry

“Brain drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20drain. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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