brothel

noun

broth·​el ˈbrä-thəl  ˈbrȯ- 

also -t͟həl

plural brothels

: a business establishment where sex workers are available for hire

For recreation, there were bars, after-hours joints, pool halls, strip joints, brothels, and transient motels.

—Darlene Nall

Elizaveta is happy to become the madam of a high-class brothel.

—Jonathan Fast

In the brutal red-light district of Chicago, at the dawn of the 20th century, most brothels emphasized "efficiency instead of fantasy."

—Ada Calhoun

Synonyms of brothel

• bordello
• stew
• crib
• cathouse

Examples of brothel in a Sentence

the district is infamous for its brothels and drug dealers

Recent Examples on the Web

The idea was associated with visionary eighteenth-century architects like Claude-Nicolas Ledoux and Étienne-Louis Boullée—perhaps the most famous example is Ledoux’s Oikema, a proposal for a brothel shaped like a massive phallus. — Alec Mapes-Frances, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

The lore says the building operated as a brothel in its early years, with a tavern then as now on the ground floor. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

The song is a cautionary tale about a brothel in New Orleans known for ruining many poor girls. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026

But as Cathy moves through life and eventually into her role as a brothel owner (when she is known as Kate), makeup becomes increasingly accessible, aligning with her character arc. — Katie Gunderman, Allure, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, worthless fellow, prostitute, from brothen, past participle of brethen to waste away, go to ruin, from Old English brēothan to waste away; akin to Old English brēotan to break — more at brittle

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above