bro
1 Americannoun
-
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
noun
-
a family member
-
a close associate
noun
abbreviation
Other Word Forms
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.
Donald Gibb, the actor who played the hulking fraternity bro Ogre in “Revenge of the Nerds” and Ray “Tiny” Jackson in “Bloodsport,” has died.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
The details were salacious and shocking to his peers, who’d known him as a socially awkward, occasionally gruff finance bro.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
"Jim, don't do this bro, come on!" he shouted.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026
Lawrence has found a character formula viewers find appealing, and Carell’s affability sells Greg’s stumbles, even ones pulled from the annals of early aughts bro comedies.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
I had King on the weekends, but on the weekdays it was just me and Ma, so mainly just me, because she's Ma, and Ma ain't bro.
From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds
![]()
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.