brotherly

[ bruhth-er-lee ]

adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a brother; brother; affectionate and loyal; fraternal:

   brotherly love.

adverb

1. as a brother; brother; fraternally.

brotherly

/ ˈbrʌðəlɪ /

adjective

1. of, resembling, or suitable to a brother, esp in showing loyalty and affection; fraternal

adverb

1. in a brotherly way; fraternally

Derived Forms

• ˈbrotherliness, noun

Other Words From

• brother·li·ness noun
• pseudo·brother·ly adverb
• quasi-brother·ly adjective
• un·brother·li·ness noun
• un·brother·ly adjective adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of brotherly¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English brōthorlīc. See brother, -ly

Example Sentences

The protesters disagreed with the Kremlin’s reading of Ukrainian history, viewing the Soviet era as more of a hostile occupation than a cohesive union between brotherly states.

From Time

It oscillates between matter-of-fact narration and shots of the men’s playful, brotherly dynamic, like when Antin spills a liter of coffee in Chambers’s front seat and pretends it’s water.

From Outside Online

But brotherly love among enemy combatants was not something that the high command encouraged.

From The Daily Beast

Bill Cosby was born July 12, 1937, in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.

From The Daily Beast

In a morning filled with brotherly love and jocularity over how everyone was getting along so well, no one wanted to offend.

From The Daily Beast

The City of Brotherly Love is closer to earning its moniker.

From The Daily Beast

One might question whether the bakers are acting in true and brotherly solidarity.

From The Daily Beast

For if there is one God, there is one brotherhood, and all humanity can only be linked to that God by brotherly love.

From Project Gutenberg

I made thy fortune along with my own in the days when we shared all things in brotherly community.

From Project Gutenberg

We spent the night in equally brotherly fashion, our beds being spread out for us side by side on the floor of the room.

From Project Gutenberg

Then I learned to know that which I felt was not a mere brotherly affection, but a deep love.

From Project Gutenberg

There were messages of brotherly interest and solicitude just as in the old days.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affectionate
• amicable
• cordial
• fraternal
• neighborly
• selfless

More About Brotherly

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.

Where does brotherly come from?

The first records of the word brotherly come from before 1000. The suffix -ly is often used to form adverbs, but in the case of the adjective brotherly it means “like” (i.e., like a brother).

The common meaning of brotherly is based not on any brother but on a good brother, one who is supportive and loyal. The phrase brotherly advice typically refers to advice that comes from experience and is intended to help you be the best you can be. Such advice can come from your actual brother or from a person who’s like a brother to you.

Philadelphia is known as the “City of Brotherly Love” because that’s what its name means—it comes from the Greek roots philo-, meaning “loving” and adelphos, meaning “brother.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to brotherly?

• brotherliness (noun)
• unbrotherly (adjective)

What are some synonyms for brotherly?

• fraternal
• fraternally (when brotherly is used as an adverb)

What are some words that share a root or word element with brotherly? 

 

• brother
• brotherhood
• sisterly
• fatherly
• motherly
• grandfatherly
• grandmotherly
• neighborly

What are some words that often get used in discussing brotherly?

• advice
• support
• talk
• supportive
• loving
• loyal
• affection
• relationship

How is brotherly used in real life?

Brotherly is usually used in a positive way to describe a man or something he does as being like a good brother. It can be applied to brothers or people who are not brothers.

I wish my brothers would be more 'brotherly'. Our whole childhood was spent arguing, trying to outdo eachother. Tensions are still there 😕

— Very British Mrs 💞 (@VeryBritishMrs) June 12, 2016

VAUGHTS VIEWS – Jacob Toppin got brotherly advice before his UK media interview https://t.co/cwfOWPSFYz

— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) October 31, 2020

 

Mike sent me a good luck text before work. That was brotherly of him c':

— Candy Hart (@mrs_candyhart) April 20, 2011

Try using brotherly!

Which of the following actions could be described as brotherly?

A. giving you good advice
B. supporting you
C. cheering you on
D. all of the above