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

At times a speakeasy and a brothel, the bar used to have tunnels under the building that ran to the local courthouse. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026

Days later, she was taken to a brothel to service up to 30 clients per day. — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 30 June 2026

Though at least one of his movies was a success, John eventually left the industry to work as a greeter for a brothel in Nevada. — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026

In an effort to increase business, the upstairs storage room was converted into a brothel. — Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 12 June 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