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
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.
Egg, who is revealed to be Prince Aegon V Targaryen, has never known brotherly love or witnessed goodness in action until he meets Dunk, one of the lowest of the lowborn.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
The childhood bunk bed was a technicolour dreamcoat of late-night results, felt tip pen scribbled on the oak-stained frame a record of who was winning the ultimate, never-ending championship of brotherly video game encounters.
From BBC ● May 5, 2026
“Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value,” Abbas Araghchi said External link.
From Barron's ● Apr. 25, 2026
Wherever they’ve come from, they’re together now, and a mutual respect and brotherly camaraderie emerges, as well as a genuine and quite touching form of male bonding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
"All men who want a brotherly world," I said.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
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.
