# brothel

/ˈbɹɑθəɫ/ (US) · /bɹˈɒθəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brothel
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a building or house where people pay to have sex with someone.

For teachers: an establishment where people engage in sexual activity with prostitutes in exchange for payment.

## Examples

- The police closed down an illegal brothel in the city center.
- Historical records show that the district was once famous for its high-end brothels and theaters.
- The novel explores the complex social hierarchies within a nineteenth-century brothel, focusing on the lives of the women who lived and worked there.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in legal and historical contexts; often replaced by euphemisms in modern casual speech.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.