brothel

noun

broth·​el ˈbrä-thəl How to pronounce brothel (audio) ˈbrȯ- How to pronounce brothel (audio)
 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

Examples of brothel in a Sentence

the district is infamous for its brothels and drug dealers
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for brothel

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of brothel was in 1566

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Cite this Entry

“Brothel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brothel. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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