<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000014693</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BROWN FORMAN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BFA, BFB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902312</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROWN OWSLEY II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>850 DIXIE HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOUISVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>40210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2819</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>91092</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100016</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>BHP Ltd Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2819</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>197724</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>GRAT (Grantor Trust)</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11479</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>GRAT 12/01</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>49982</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Ltd Partnership </value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>264805</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Ltd Partnership PTP</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>971.9</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Partnership LTD</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1722.3</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Partnership/Nectar</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>219004.3</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust/Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>434503</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust/Remainder</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>86075</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>528</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>651</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Ltd Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>73.1</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1650</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Partnership/Hebe</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>462008.5</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust/Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>440690.5</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust/Remainder</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36.13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30347</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30347</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>49.13</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2000-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>27153</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27153</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>50.44</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>39542</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39542</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>61.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25361</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25361</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>62.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>27257</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27257</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>64.22</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>39636</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39636</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non_Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>68.33</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>31263</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>31263</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>100.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-08-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>300</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>300</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>78.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-05-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-04-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class B Common</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>39605</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39605</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Filing of this form should not be construed as an admission that the filing person is, for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the 'beneficial owner' of any equity securities held in a limited partnership or in trust and reported on this form.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reporting person also holds a direct ownership interest in 85,424 shares and subject to footnote 1 above, indirectly owns a beneficial interest in 203,392 shares held by a Grantor Trust, 11,479 shares held by Grat 12/01, 49,982 shares held by LTD Partnership, 264,805 shares held by Ltd Partnership PTP, 971.9 shares held by Partnership Ltd, 219,004.3 shares held by Trust/Partnership, 434,503 shares held by Trust Remainder, 1,722.25 shares held by Partnership Nectar, 100,016 shares held by BHP Ltd Partnership.
</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Nelea A. Absher, Atttn In Fact for: Owsley Brown II</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

