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 only additional information we, and Claire and Jamie, get is how Fanny and Jane wound up being kidnapped and taken to the brothel where William found them. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026

The trailer, which dropped on March 3, opens with the infamous 2015 incident when the basketball star was found unconscious at Love Ranch, a brothel in Crystal, Nevada. —Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026

The 1893 silver crash and the following regional depression left the area in decline, turning it into skid row with brothels, speakeasies, pawn shops and widespread crime. —Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 1 Mar. 2026

The Pillar story alleges that Dudley spotted the bishop making late-night border crossings into Mexico, parking in a lot reserved for customers of a brothel, then boarding a shuttle exclusive to customers of the brothel. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 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