brotherly
Americanadjective
adverb
adjective
adverb
Usage
What does brotherly mean? Brotherly is an adjective that most commonly means like a brother. It’s especially used in a positive way to describe someone as being loyal, supportive, and protective—like a good brother who loves and cares about you. Describing someone as brotherly sometimes implies that they’re like an older brother who can give good advice. The word fraternal can be used to mean the same thing, but it can also be used in a more neutral way that doesn’t imply these positive things. Brotherly is most often used to describe brothers themselves and the brotherly things they do, but it can be applied to someone who’s not a brother, as in I don’t have a brother, but I always rely on Joe for brotherly support. It’s sometimes used in a more general way to describe behavior based on treating others with respect and affection, as if they were family members. The word neighborly is similar. Brotherly can also be used as an adverb meaning in the manner of a brother. Brotherly is one of many similar terms based on family relations, including sisterly, motherly, fatherly, grandmotherly, and grandfatherly. Example: I’m lucky that my brothers and I have always shared a brotherly affection—we all support each other.
Other Word Forms
- brotherliness noun
- pseudobrotherly adverb
- quasi-brotherly adjective
- unbrotherliness noun
- unbrotherly adjective
Etymology
Origin of brotherly
before 1000; Middle English; Old English brōthorlīc. See brother, -ly
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.
When William comes to the throne, Harry will always be in the background, a foil, a potential distraction and a constant reminder of a regal brotherly duo that could have been.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
Positions are entrenched, they are fiercely protective of their wives and families and rebuilding that brotherly bond and trust feels a long way off.
From BBC • Aug. 29, 2025
Sweeney’s film “Twinless,” out Sept. 5, follows the brotherly friendship between two young men that’s threatened by a secret.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025
In a statement the ministry said that "we cannot remain unresponsive to what is happening in brotherly Serbia."
From BBC • Aug. 16, 2025
I never will be guilty of that again—as I know now that some white people are truly sincere, that some truly are capable of being brotherly toward a black man.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
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.
