# brother

/ˈbɹəðɝ/ (US) · /bɹˈʌðɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brother
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. male sibling

noun · CEFR A1

a boy or man who has the same parents as you.

For teachers: a male person in relation to other children of the same parents.

- My older brother helped me with my math homework last night.
- Although they are twins, my brother and I have developed vastly different professional interests over the years.

### 2. religious member

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a man who belongs to a religious group, like a monk.

For teachers: a male member of a religious order who has not been ordained as a priest.

- The brothers at the monastery spend their mornings in quiet prayer.
- Brother Thomas has dedicated his life to the service of the poor within the local parish community.

### 3. close friend or ally

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a man who shares the same ideas, goals, or background as you.

For teachers: a male comrade or associate linked by a common cause, ethnicity, or shared experience.

- We have been through a lot together; he is like a brother to me.
- The soldiers viewed each other as brothers after enduring the hardships of the winter campaign together.

### 4. informal address

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

a friendly way to talk to another man.

For teachers: a familiar or colloquial form of address used between men, often implying solidarity.

- Hey brother, can you tell me the way to the train station?
- Listen, brother, I appreciate the advice, but I need to make this decision on my own.

### 5. expressing annoyance

interjection · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

a word you say when you are annoyed or surprised.

For teachers: an exclamation used to express frustration, exasperation, or disbelief.

- Oh brother, I forgot my keys in the car again.
- Oh brother, not another meeting about the office coffee machine.

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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.