Completely new and unused. The word "brand" here comes from Old English for fire or flame; thus, something that is brand new is likened to that which is forged in—and fresh out of—fire. I bought Jim a brand-new computer for his birthday. That car is brand new, so be extra careful when you drive it.

Intellectual property ("IP") that is already associated with a popular brand. With branded IP at their disposal, movie studios don't have to take chances any more. Why would they forego the built-in audience a superhero movie brings?

Fitting with the image or brand of someone or something. This phrase can refer to a company brand or (perhaps humorously) to someone's personal interests or image. Their newest commercial is so on brand that you can tell it's for their product before you even see it. That book on the lunar phases is very on brand for you, what with your interest in astronomy.

A more emphatic way to say "new." Nope, I have a brand spanking new phone now, so I shouldn't be dropping calls anymore.

slang A hand-rolled cigarette filled with marijuana; a joint. My brother and I sat out on the back porch, passing a no-brand cigarette back and forth while discussing the mysteries of the universe.

Machine-rolled cigarettes not produced by companies with well-known or reputable brands. He was sentenced to six months in jail for selling cheap, off-brand cigarettes outside a strip mall in north Denver. Studies have shown that off-brand cigarettes can contain nearly twice as many cancer-causing chemicals as those produced by established brands such as Marlboro or Camel.

Totally new; never before used. This computer is brand spanking new, so I just don't understand how it can have such terrible performance issues. The company just completed construction on their spanking new headquarters in Virginia.