brown sugar

American  

noun

1. unrefined or partially refined sugar that retains some molasses.

2. a commercial product consisting of white, refined sugar to which molasses has been added.

3. Slang. brownish-colored heroin manufactured illicitly in Mexico.

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brown sugar British  

noun

1. sugar that is unrefined or only partially refined

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Etymology

Origin of brown sugar

First recorded in 1695–1705

Example Sentences

The dry lake beds and bare mountains were cast in glow and shadow, the whole scene washed in cinnamon and brown sugar — earthy tones that felt almost edible.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Each layer is slathered with a decadent mixture of brown sugar, butter and cinnamon that will melt into warm, sugary goodness while baking.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2025

“The irony … is that I love Pop-Tarts. I particularly love the brown sugar tarts. I probably eat too many of them,” Bevacqua said.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 12, 2025

Last year I scored it one way and then the other, kind of a diamond thing, studded it with cloves, sprinkled on brown sugar and roasted it quite slow.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025

How she was going to mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter with the fruit we’d bought, and then she just stopped talking.

From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson