# brotherhood

/ˈbɹəðɝˌhʊd/ (US) · /bɹˈʌðəhˌʊd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brotherhood
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. feeling of friendship

noun · CEFR B2

a strong feeling of friendship, support, and understanding between people.

For teachers: the abstract quality of fraternal fellowship, solidarity, and mutual support among a group of people.

- The long journey created a sense of brotherhood among the travelers.
- The shared hardships of the campaign fostered a deep sense of brotherhood that transcended their diverse cultural backgrounds.

### 2. an organisation

noun · CEFR B2

a group of people, often men, who join together for a specific purpose or shared belief.

For teachers: an association or fraternity of people united by a common profession, religious order, or social purpose.

- He joined a local brotherhood that focuses on helping the community.
- The medieval brotherhood of stonemasons maintained strict secrets regarding their architectural techniques and structural calculations.

### 3. a profession

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

all the people who work in the same job or business.

For teachers: the collective body of individuals engaged in the same trade or profession.

- The legal brotherhood gathered to discuss the new changes in the law.
- Members of the medical brotherhood expressed significant concerns regarding the ethical implications of the proposed legislative reforms.

### 4. being brothers

noun · CEFR B2

the state of being a brother to someone.

For teachers: the literal state or relationship of being a brother.

- Their brotherhood was tested when they both fell in love with the same person.
- The bond of their biological brotherhood remained intact despite years of geographical separation and political disagreement.

## Examples

- The soldiers shared a deep sense of brotherhood.
- The local brotherhood of firefighters organizes a charity run every summer to support the community hospital.
- Beyond mere professional cooperation, the long-standing brotherhood among the union members ensured that no individual was left to face the economic downturn without communal support.

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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.