brotherly

adjective

broth·​er·​ly ˈbrə-t͟hər-lē 

1

: of or relating to brothers

2

: natural or becoming to brothers : affectionate

brotherly love

brotherliness noun

brotherly adverb

Synonyms of brotherly

• fraternal

Examples of brotherly in a Sentence

He gave his sister a brotherly hug.

He received brotherly support from his fellow priests.

Recent Examples on the Web

And in this relationship between him and Robby, it’s packed with all kinds of emotions and turbulence, almost like a brotherly relationship. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 8 July 2026

But that once sweet brotherly bond is now in tatters and has been for several years. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026

Ever the sports fans, Travis and Jason shared some brotherly bonding time while at game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, where the Boston Celtics played against the Philadelphia 76ers. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

The continuation of the Corleone Family saga expands until Michael (Al Pacino) commits the ultimate brotherly sin, but the story’s jump back in time — in which Robert De Niro plays a younger version of Marlon Brando’s Vito — features many of the most iconic sequences in 1970s cinema. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for brotherly

• motherly
• southerly

Kids Definition

brotherly

adjective

broth·​er·​ly ˈbrət͟h-ər-lē 

1

: of or relating to brothers

2

: kindly entry 1 sense 2, affectionate

brotherliness noun