bro

noun

ˈbrō 

plural bros

1

informal : brother

… Tommy has a worldview that's larger than his baby bro's.

—Leah Rozen

2

US slang

a

: a male friend

hanging out with his bros

One quirky edge the Olympics haven't yet sanded away is the habit of extreme athletes to stick together. Like, no matter where we're from, we're all bros. That kind of thing.

—Devin Gordon et al.

b

—used as a friendly way of addressing a man or boy

Hey, bro, what's up?

Catch you later, bro.

c

: a young male who is part of a group of similar male friends stereotypically characterized as hearty, athletic, self-confident, party-loving, etc.

The recent season of "Project Greenlight," on HBO, made explicit how resistant to race talk Hollywood can be, a stifling culture of bros bonding with mirror versions of themselves.

—Emily Nussbaum

These were nerds who could pass for bros on a dorm-room sofa …

—Ben McGrath

—often used before another noun

It's the continuation of the bro culture. In my experience, in this world right now, white guys have an advantage. In their training, they've been given access and tools that I haven't. White men get behind each other and empower themselves.

—Tanya Holland

Examples of bro in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wright Olsen will play Gwen, an efficiency expert analyzing the firm, and Haber as Hunter, a younger associate from the floater pool who is a total bro. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026

Nix wears blue slides to the podium for his Wednesday pressers and has the general public demeanor and intonation of a surfer bro from Southern California. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026

Once synonymous with gym bros mainlining egg whites and blended chicken, the macronutrient has since become a hot favorite among literally everyone, from nutritionists to Gen Alpha TikTokers to mums making protein shakes for their toddlers. —Daisy Jones, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026

If even his bros are sick of his shenanigans in 2009, why is he being allowed to give a toast at the rehearsal dinner in 2015? —Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

by alteration

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bro

• bro-ey

Rhymes for bro

• beau
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux
• faux

Kids Definition

bro

noun

ˈbrō 

1

informal : brother sense 1

2

slang : brother sense 3