sister

noun

sis·​ter ˈsi-stər How to pronounce sister (audio)
1
: a female who has one or both parents in common with another
2
often capitalized
a
: a member of a women's religious order (as of nuns or deaconesses)
especially : one of a Roman Catholic congregation under simple vows
b
: a girl or woman who is a member of a Christian church
3
a
: a girl or woman regarded as a comrade
b
: a girl or woman who shares with another a common national or racial origin
especially : a Black girl or woman
4
: one that is closely similar to or associated with another
sister cities
5
chiefly British : nurse
6
a
: girl, woman
b
: person
usually used in the phrase weak sister
7
: a member of a sorority

Example Sentences

The sisters live in the convent.
Recent Examples on the Web Abigail Zwerner, her sister, Hannah, and their mother, Julie. Erik Ortiz, NBC News, 21 Mar. 2023 Her sister went to the store one day and never returned home That soon changed. Faith Karimi, CNN, 19 Mar. 2023 And Bailey herself is a protege of Queen Bey, who signed the singer-actress and her sister Halle Bailey, to her management company as the duo Chloe x Halle. Bethonie Butler, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2023 And, as with any queen, her domestic orbit is common knowledge: the rapper husband with the capitalist hustle and the wandering eye, their twins, the gifted but hopelessly overshadowed younger sister. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2023 Like the gorgeously gothic sister and antithesis to the full moon, perhaps? Aliza Pelto, Women's Health, 17 Mar. 2023 The younger one is embarrassed and ashamed and doesn’t want to face her sister right now. Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 17 Mar. 2023 Her mother had her own baking business and her sister started her own baking summer camp for kids. Nile Fortner, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2023 Though losing her little sister has been unfathomable, Lasley said the hardest moment in the days since her death was having to tell Jones’ 8-year-old son, Kidd. Jamie Landers, Dallas News, 17 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sister.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English suster, sister, partly from Old English sweostor and partly from Old Norse systir sister; akin to Latin soror sister, Sanskrit svasṛ

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sister was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sister

Cite this Entry

“Sister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sister. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

sister

noun
sis·​ter ˈsis-tər How to pronounce sister (audio)
1
: a female who has one or both parents in common with another individual
2
often capitalized : a member of a religious community of women : nun
3
a
: a fellow female member of a group
b
: a girl or woman who shares a common national or racial origin with another
4
: one that is closely similar to or associated with another
sister schools
sister ships
5
chiefly British : nurse entry 1 sense 2
sisterly adjective or adverb

Medical Definition

sister

noun
sis·​ter ˈsis-tər How to pronounce sister (audio)
chiefly British
: a head nurse in a hospital ward or clinic
broadly : nurse
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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