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 For five years and 500 episodes, the duo interviewed a diverse group including Lizzo, Finn Wolfhard and Taylor Lorenz with the type of bro banter that carries most two-dudes-and-a-microphone shticks. Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2023 In honor of the two-time Super Bowl champ's 34th birthday on Oct. 5, 2023, here are some sweet moments he's shared with one of his favorite people, his big bro. Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023 Unlike, say, East London’s Shoreditch, or its spiritual progenitor, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the town isn’t — at least not yet — a place for trust-funders or tech bros hoping to pass for bohemians. Nancy Hass, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023 Think podcast bros raised by single moms dragging today’s single moms through the mud. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 5 Oct. 2023 The biceps and bro love will flow freely this December, as a new sports drama starring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White has been given the greenlight to conduct publicity from striking union SAG-AFTRA. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 21 Sep. 2023 An eight-round heavyweight qualifier or watching the family vlogger Austin McBroom knock out the TikTok frat bro Bryce Hall? Brady Brickner-Wood, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023 Read more: Best Gifts for Boyfriends; Best Gifts for Husbands Win major style points with your bro by getting him some sweet accessories—say, a trendy belt bag or a SELF Sneaker Award–winning pair of crunchy-yet-cool Merrells. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 21 Sep. 2023 Enjoy your retirement and your beautiful family bro. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bro.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

by alteration

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bro was circa 1530

Dictionary Entries Near bro

Cite this Entry

“Bro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bro. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

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