brotherhood

noun

ˈbrə-t͟hər-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce brotherhood (audio)
Definition of brotherhoodnext
1
as in organization
a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest they're a brotherhood of retired war veterans

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in fraternity
the body of people in a profession or field of activity a family that has been part of the brotherhood of police officers for four generations

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in community
the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions the brotherhood that existed between the medical missionaries and the villagers they served

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in friendship
kindly concern, interest, or support in a display of brotherhood, other writers rushed to the defense of the jailed journalist

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of brotherhood The dynamic and ethos that Tuchel was hoping to cultivate — unity, leadership, ‘brotherhood’ — appears to have taken root. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Filmmakers have been inspired to use the game, and everything that surrounds it, as a vehicle for humanist stories, some with themes of brotherhood or resilience, and others carrying significant political messages. — Carlos Aguilar, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026 The most recognizable are Holy Week processions during the final week of Lent where brotherhoods and robed penitents parade ornate statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary through cities, towns and villages alongside marching bands. — Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026 The most recognizable are Semana Santa, or Holy Week, processions during the final week of Lent where brotherhoods and robed penitents parade ornate statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary through cities, towns and villages alongside marching bands. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for brotherhood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brotherhood
  1. organization
  2. fraternity
  3. community
  4. friendship
  5. association
  6. profession
  7. society
  8. institution
Noun
  • The organization warned that as search-and-rescue teams begin to scale back operations, humanitarian needs—particularly food, medical care and protection services—could intensify rather than diminish.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the world’s largest professional MMA organization.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of organization
Noun
  • The warning is the second issued by UCSB police since May, when an 18-year-old freshman reported she was raped and strangled after meeting a man at a Sigma Pi fraternity party before returning to her dorm at Tropicana Gardens in Isla Vista.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • While fraternities and sororities often have their own chapter gatherings and organizational conferences, the picnic creates a space where members from different organizations can come together in a more informal setting.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2026
Definition of fraternity
Noun
  • Bhajans are a centuries-old form of devotional singing performed in temples, religious processions and community spaces across India, often free of charge.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Sutton hopes the country remembers that supporting those who protect their communities shouldn't end when the headlines do.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of community
Noun
  • Just a few days later, Navratilova spoke by phone about the film, the friendship and their cancer battles.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • Bridget Foley, former executive editor of WWD, worked closely with Queen, and developed a deep friendship.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of friendship
Noun
  • The average American consumes about 20 pounds — almost 4 gallons — of ice cream each year, the association also reported.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • However, if future disappointment is to be avoided, something will need to change not just at the national level but also within Asian soccer’s governing association.
    — Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of association
Noun
  • Lila Scott, a TV writer, is among those seeking to join the profession.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The researchers found that, within the medical profession, doctors tend to earn more in specialties that require more training and longer hours.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of profession
Noun
  • Steinbeck creates a microcosm of American society, where disability, gender, race and class are all represented and shaped by an economic hierarchy.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • The comments sorted themselves into camps, each revealing something interesting about how our society has come to think about motherhood, sacrifice and raising children.
    — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Definition of society
Noun
  • Casa Bonita has been a Denver institution for more than 50 years.
    — Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • The surge also did considerable damage to the buildings within the surge zone, 85% of which were residential buildings, according to New York University's Furman Center, an empirical research institution.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of institution

Browse Nearby Words

brother
brotherhood
brotherhoods
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brotherhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brotherhood. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on brotherhood

Nglish: Translation of brotherhood for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All