brother
noun
broth·er
ˈbrə-t͟hər 
plural brothers also brethren
ˈbret͟h-rən
ˈbre-t͟hə-rən,
-t͟hərn
1
: a male who has the same parents as another or one parent in common with another
2
: one related to another by common ties or interests
3
: a fellow member
—used as a title for ministers in some evangelical denominations
4
: one of a type similar to another
5
a
: kinsman
b
: one who shares with another a common national or racial origin
especially
: a Black boy or man : soul brother
6
a
Brother
: a member of a congregation of men not in holy orders and usually in hospital or school work
b
: a member of a men's religious order who is not preparing for or is not ready for holy orders
a lay brother
Examples of brother in a Sentence
We must support our brothers and sisters fighting overseas.
the brothers in a monastery
Recent Examples on the Web
In October, Mountbatten-Windsor was ordered to leave the sprawling 30-room Royal Lodge in the heart of the Crown’s Windsor Estate, just outside of London, after his brother King Charles III cast him out of the monarchy over the swirling Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
—
Max Foster, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Also present were Good’s two brothers and an attorney representing their family.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Michael Jordan, the fourth of five children, has credited his older brother Larry with fueling his legendary competitive fire, while Serena Williams — the youngest of five sisters — surpassed even the greatness of older sister Venus.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Luke Ganger and his brother Brent spoke at a congressional forum centered on the tactics and use of force of federal immigration agents – an issue that has been under intense scrutiny since the killings of Good and Alex Pretti in January by federal officers.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brother
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Max Foster, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
Also present were Good’s two brothers and an attorney representing their family.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Michael Jordan, the fourth of five children, has credited his older brother Larry with fueling his legendary competitive fire, while Serena Williams — the youngest of five sisters — surpassed even the greatness of older sister Venus.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Luke Ganger and his brother Brent spoke at a congressional forum centered on the tactics and use of force of federal immigration agents – an issue that has been under intense scrutiny since the killings of Good and Alex Pretti in January by federal officers.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for brother
Cite this Entry
“Brother.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brother. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brother
noun
broth·er
ˈbrət͟h-ər
plural brothers also brethren
ˈbret͟h- (ə-)rən
ˈbret͟h-ərn
1
: a male who has one or both parents in common with another
2
: a male relative
3
: a fellow member of a group
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