Brownfield refers to land that was previously developed for industrial or commercial purposes but has since been abandoned or left underused. These sites typically require further development or remediation before they can be repurposed for new uses.
The classification of a site as a brownfield often depends on the presence or absence of pollution resulting from its previous use. While definitions vary based on the specific policies established by land developers and policymakers in different countries, the defining characteristic is that the land requires intervention due to its history of industrial activity.