branded

To have marked an animal with a hot iron to show ownership, or to have put a distinguishing mark or label on a product to identify it. This sense often implies a permanent and visible mark.

• The rancher's cattle were all branded with his unique symbol before being sent to pasture.
• Each product coming off the assembly line was carefully branded with the company's logo.

To have been given a negative label or reputation, often unfairly, thereby stigmatizing or discrediting someone or something. This usage implies a lasting, often detrimental, perception.

• After the scandal, the politician was branded a liar by the media and lost public trust.
• The company was branded as unethical after reports of its poor labor practices emerged.

(Of a product) Identified by a particular trade name and belonging to a specific company, making it distinct from generic or unnamed goods. Consumers often perceive branded products as having a certain quality or reputation.

• Many consumers prefer to buy branded clothing, believing it offers better durability and style than generic alternatives.
• The supermarket offered both branded breakfast cereals and their own lower-cost versions.

Having a distinctive mark or characteristic that serves to identify its origin, ownership, or a particular quality or type. This can apply to objects, ideas, or even people through association.

• The antique furniture was branded with a small, almost invisible mark indicating its maker.
• Her unique artistic style became so branded that her paintings were instantly recognizable.