bro
1 Americannoun
plural
bros-
a brother.
-
a guy or fellow: used as a term of address.
-
a male friend or buddy.
-
a fellow Black male; soul brother.
-
a young, usually white male variously and often negatively characterized as being preppy, party-loving, egotistical, sexist, etc.
adjective
abbreviation
plural
bros, Brosnoun
-
a family member
-
a close associate
noun
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
- broish adjective
Etymology
Origin of bro
First recorded in 1830–40; reduced form of brother
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Silicon Valley’s success and mythmaking long ago transformed the once-ridiculed computer nerd into the cool tech bro.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026
“I’m like ‘Puka, bro, I miss this energy.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026
"I can read between the lines, bro," he said.
From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026
"I'm not even playing that much dominoes, and that is killing me, bro," he said.
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026
Blake: You don’t own it any more than I do, bro.
From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.