blood brother: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral, informal, literary
Quick answer
What does “blood brother” mean?
A man with whom one has sworn a formal pact of loyalty and friendship, often involving a ritual mingling of blood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A man with whom one has sworn a formal pact of loyalty and friendship, often involving a ritual mingling of blood.
A man with whom one shares an exceptionally close, loyal, and enduring bond, as if related by blood; can be used figuratively for close allies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The concept is perhaps more culturally resonant in historical/folk contexts in the UK, while in the US it may be more associated with fraternal organizations or gang culture.
Connotations
UK: Strong historical/literary connotations (e.g., Arthurian legend, historical fiction). US: Can carry connotations of street gangs, fraternities, or military camaraderie alongside the general meaning.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to historical/literary contexts, but the difference is minimal.
Grammar
How to Use “blood brother” in a Sentence
X is Y's blood brotherX and Y became blood brothersX considers Y (to be) his blood brotherVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blood brother” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They decided to blood-brother themselves in a ceremony last summer.
American English
- They blood-brothered each other as kids, cutting their fingers.
adjective
British English
- He felt a blood-brother bond with his comrades from the expedition.
American English
- Their blood-brother oath was taken very seriously.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used hyperbolically in informal speech to describe an extremely close business partner: 'We've been through so many deals together, he's like a blood brother.'
Academic
Found in anthropology, history, and literature papers discussing ritual kinship, historical pacts, or literary themes of friendship.
Everyday
Used to describe an exceptionally close male friend, often from childhood or shared difficult experiences.
Technical
Specific term in anthropology for a type of ritual or fictive kinship established by a blood oath.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blood brother”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blood brother”
- Using it for any close friend without the implied depth of loyalty/pact. Confusing it with 'foster brother'. Using it for a biological brother (that is just 'brother').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A blood brother is a chosen, ritualised bond. A biological brother is a sibling by birth ('brother' or 'blood relative').
Traditionally, the term is masculine. The equivalent for women is 'blood sister'. In modern usage, 'blood sibling' might be used for gender neutrality, but it's less common.
No, it is a social or ritual pact, not a legal one. However, the loyalty implied is considered very strong culturally.
Yes, but more often figuratively to describe an extremely close friend. Formal blood brother rituals are less common in modern Western societies but exist in specific subcultures and historical reenactments.
A man with whom one has sworn a formal pact of loyalty and friendship, often involving a ritual mingling of blood.
Blood brother is usually neutral, informal, literary in register.
Blood brother: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblʌd ˈbrʌð.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblʌd ˈbrʌð.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not an idiom itself, but appears in] 'thicker than water' (often misquoted as 'blood is thicker than water,' but the original 'blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb' relates directly to bonds like blood brotherhood).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two warriors cutting their palms and clasping hands, mixing BLOOD to become BROTHERS.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOYALTY / FRIENDSHIP IS BLOOD KINSHIP. The chosen bond is metaphorically conceptualized as being as powerful and inherent as a biological family tie.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of a 'blood brother' relationship?