sibling

[sib-ling]

noun

1. a brother or sister.

2. Anthropology.,  a comember of a sib, a unilateral descent group thought to share kinship through a common ancestor.

adjective

1. of or relating to a brother or sister.

   sibling rivalry.

sibling

/ ˈsɪblɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. a person's brother or sister

   2. ( as modifier )

      sibling rivalry

2. any fellow member of a sib

Other Word Forms

• half-sibling noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sibling¹

before 1000; late Middle English: relative, Old English; sib, -ling ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sibling¹

C19: specialized modern use of Old English sibling relative, from _sib ; see _-ling ¹

Example Sentences

Among the survivors are two sets of siblings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He had fled Kabul with some of his siblings, due to the Afghan civil war.

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Skyy said his resolve was rooted in his upbringing and appreciating what he’s been given, his father once showing him and a few siblings his ramshackle childhood residence in Ocala, Fla.

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The test results said one of the dogs share the same amount of DNA as people do with their full siblings – and that they’re mutts.

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Madeleine McCann's sister has told a court that a woman claiming to be her missing sibling "played with my emotions" and sent "creepy" messages.

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Related Words

• brother 
• relative 
• sister