brother

[ bruhth -er or for 9, bruhth -ur ]

/ ˈbrʌð ər or for 9, ˈbrʌðˈɜr /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR brother ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural brothers, (Archaic) brethren.

a male offspring having both parents in common with another offspring; a male sibling.

Also called half brother. a male offspring having only one parent in common with another offspring.

a stepbrother.

a male numbered among the same kinship group, nationality, ethnicity, profession, etc., as another; an associate; a fellow member, fellow countryman, fellow man, etc.: a fraternity brother.

Ecclesiastical.

(often initial capital letter) a male numbered among the lay members of a religious organization that has a priesthood.
a man who devotes himself to the duties of a religious order without taking holy orders, or while preparing for holy orders.

brothers, all members of a particular racial or ethnic group, or of the human race in general: All men are brothers.

Slang. fellow; buddy: Brother, can you spare a dime?

Informal. a term used to refer to or address a fellow black man; soul brother.

interjection

Slang. (used to express disappointment, disgust, or surprise).

Nearby words

bros., brose, brossard, broth, brothel, brother, brother jonathan, brother of the christian schools, brother's keeper, am i my, brother-in-law, brotherhood

Origin of brother

before 1000; Middle English; Old English brōthor; cognate with Dutch broeder, German Bruder, Old Norse brōthir, Gothic brothar, Sanskrit bhrātṛ, Greek phrā́tēr, Latin frāter, Old Irish bráthair, OCS bratrŭ

Related forms

broth·er·less, adjectivebroth·er·like, adjective

Synonym study

1. Brothers, brethren are plurals of brother. Brothers are kinsmen, sons of the same parents: My mother lives with my brothers. Brethren, now archaic in the foregoing sense, is used of male members of a congregation or of a fraternal organization: The brethren will meet at the church.

Definition for brother (2 of 2)

brethren

[ breth -rin ]

/ ˈbrɛð rɪn /

plural noun

fellow members.

Archaic. brothers.

Synonym study

1, 2. See brother.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for brother

The brother of a girl who made her debut in New Orleans society was shaking his fists in excitement.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Among the other graduates was Officer Kevin Lynch, brother and son of police officers.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A 2008 Pakistani raid near Turbat turned up Abdolhamid Rigi, the brother of Abdelmalek Rigi.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mating with a cousin or brother is safer than risking life and limb to mate with an outsider.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But in the days ahead he, his brother, and the others will be back in the street while their families worry at home.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos|Michael Daly|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"But it is terrible to have the air so full of noise," continued the girl, as she made a little face at her brother.
Walter and the Wireless|Sara Ware Bassett
James asked, when he and his brother were left alone with the wine.
Poor Relations|Compton Mackenzie
I will ask our brother, Huya, the great war bird, to lead you to the Blackfeet camp.
The War Trail|Elmer Russell Gregor
There at that time lived Thorstein, Egil's son, his mother's brother.
Laxdla Saga|Anonymous
And to be sure when a man rises from the dead thus uninvited—your brother was the sole heir of our late master!
The Robbers|Friedrich Schiller

British Dictionary definitions for brother (1 of 2)

brother

/ (ˈbrʌðə) /

noun plural brothers or archaic except when referring to fellow members of a religion, sect, society, etc brethren

a male person having the same parents as another person

short for half-brother, stepbrother

a male person belonging to the same group, profession, nationality, trade union, etc, as another or others; fellow member
(as modifier)brother workers

comrade; friend: used as a form of address

Christianity

a member of a male religious order who undertakes work for the order without actually being in holy orders
a lay member of a male religious order

Related adjective: fraternal

interjection

slang an exclamation of amazement, disgust, surprise, disappointment, etc

Word Origin for brother

Old English brōthor; related to Old Norse brōthir, Old High German bruoder, Latin frāter, Greek phratēr, Sanskrit bhrātar

British Dictionary definitions for brother (2 of 2)

brethren

/ (ˈbrɛðrɪn) /

pl n

archaic a plural of brother

fellow members of a religion, sect, society, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012