- plural of brother.
brethren
Americanplural noun
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archaic a plural of brother
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fellow members of a religion, sect, society, etc
Synonym Usage
See brother.
Explanation
Brethren is a fancy plural form of "brother" and is most often used in religious contexts. A monk might refer to other monks in a monastery as his brethren. Though it literally means "brothers," brethren frequently refers to members of the same religious community. You'll also see the word used more broadly today to refer to male members of fraternal organizations, or any group of people with close social ties. Thomas Paine used it to argue for democracy when he wrote, “The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”
Vocabulary lists containing brethren
"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" by Patrick Henry (1775)
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Beowulf vocabulary
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The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
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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.
Television genealogists may point out that Colbert’s branch of the talk show family tree is still represented by his Comedy Central brethren on “The Daily Show,” including Stewart, and John Oliver on “Last Week Tonight.”
From Salon • May 21, 2026
Although many crashed or collided with robot brethren, Lightning avoided a serious mishap and crossed the finish line in 50 minutes, 26 seconds.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
Our chickens, on the other hand, are treated abominably, packed in tightly with their germy brethren, raised in squalor, pumped with hormones, and only made clean at the end.
From Slate • Feb. 13, 2026
Yes, the big four—JPMorgan Chase, Goldman, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America—are still formidable, but in many cases they’ve been eclipsed, particularly as compensation-making machines, by their private-market brethren and their multigenerational wealth-creating fee structures.
From Barron's • Dec. 5, 2025
Their brethren from the cafe were running up to join them.
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
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.
