sibling

[sib-ling]

noun

1. a brother or sister.

2. Anthropology.,  a comember of a sib, a unilateral descent group thought to share kinship through a common ancestor.

adjective

1. of or relating to a brother or sister.

   sibling rivalry.

sibling

/ ˈsɪblɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. a person's brother or sister

   2. ( as modifier )

      sibling rivalry

2. any fellow member of a sib

Other Word Forms

• half-sibling noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sibling¹

before 1000; late Middle English: relative, Old English; sib, -ling ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sibling¹

C19: specialized modern use of Old English sibling relative, from _sib ; see _-ling ¹

Example Sentences

They speak to her about having to protect younger siblings if a parent is taken, she said.

From Los Angeles Times

It sometimes isn't easy being the younger sibling of a professional footballer - even more so when your brother happens to be one of the best players in the world.

From BBC

Growing up, Liv knew her granddad and multiple siblings had lost their lives early to dementia before she was born, and she was a teenager when she started noticing her mum's out-of-character behaviour.

From BBC

Born in 1965 in a small town in India's western Maharashtra state, Ms Yadav comes from a farming family and is the eldest of five siblings.

From BBC

Wordless interludes find Jem and Ray dancing to music or sparring as boxers, their simmering feud reduced to its core elements of rugged masculinity and sibling rivalry.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brother 
• relative 
• sister