Word
brethren
US/ˈbɹɛðɹən/
UK/bɹˈɛðɹən/
Definitions
01fellow members
n. people who belong to the same religious or social group.
n. The collective members of a fraternal, religious, or military order, emphasizing a shared bond or mission.
“The leader called upon his brethren to help those in need in the village.”
“The manifesto was addressed to his brethren in the movement, urging them to remain steadfast despite the increasing political pressure.”
Formal · Literary
Usage
Always plural; it functions as a collective noun for a specific community.
02brothers
n. an old word for brothers, often used in a spiritual way.
n. An archaic plural of brother, now restricted to religious or highly stylized literary contexts.
“The ancient text spoke of the love between brethren.”
“In the solemn atmosphere of the cathedral, the monk prayed for the souls of his departed brethren.”
Archaic · Literary
Pitfall
He has two brethren.
He has two brothers.
Use 'brothers' for male siblings in a family. 'Brethren' is only for members of a society or church.
Teaching tip
Modern speakers should use 'brothers' for family members; 'brethren' is almost exclusively found in the Bible or formal lodge settings.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/brethren