brainwash
UK[ˈbreɪnwɒʃ]US[ˈbreɪnwɑːʃ]
v
To make someone believe something by repeatedly telling them that it is true and preventing any other information from reaching them.
n
The process or result of brainwashing someone.
Morpheme Breakdown
brain
wash
brain
mind
wash
cleanse
Etymology
The word "brainwash" is a modern English compound, coined in the mid-20th century. It is a calque, or loan translation, of the Chinese term xǐ nǎo (洗脑), which literally means "to wash the brain." The term emerged during the Korean War to describe the systematic ideological indoctrination and thought reform techniques employed by captors. The logic of the compound is powerfully metaphorical: the morpheme "brain" represents the seat of thought and belief, while "wash" implies a thorough, forceful cleansing to remove existing ideas and replace them with new ones. This vivid imagery effectively conveys the concept of forcibly altering someone's fundamental beliefs through psychological pressure.
Analysis
Structure: brain (mind) + wash (cleanse)
- brain: From Old English brægen (the organ inside the head, the mind). In this compound, it functions as a noun denoting the mind or mental faculties.
- wash: From Old English wæscan (to cleanse with water). In this compound, it functions as a verb denoting a forceful cleansing or purging action.
Examples
The cult leader used isolation and repetitive lectures to brainwash his followers.
Survivors of the prisoner camp described undergoing a brutal process of brainwashing.
Some advertisements are so pervasive they feel like an attempt to brainwash the public into buying a product.