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

• bagnio
• bawdy house
• bordello
• cathouse
• disorderly house
• sporting house
• stew
• whorehouse

Examples of brothel in a Sentence

the district is infamous for its brothels and drug dealers

Recent Examples on the Web

Han Lee, 42, was sentenced to four years in prison for operating a high-end brothel network at four locations in Massachusetts and two in Virginia that generated millions of dollars in revenue. —arkansasonline.com, 20 Mar. 2025

The madame of the brothel network that operated in the suburbs of Boston and Washington D.C. will spend four years in prison. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025

The backdrop: Three others have already pleaded guilty to running the brothel network that shuttled women between luxury apartment buildings in Cambridge, Watertown, and the suburbs of Washington, D.C. before federal officers shut the ring down in 2023. —Mike Deehan, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025

But Lawrence reminds her that the brothel is in full lockdown following her and Moira’s murder of a guardian. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 29 Apr. 2025

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