brotherhood: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, literary, institutional
Quick answer
What does “brotherhood” mean?
The relationship between brothers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The relationship between brothers; a feeling of fellowship, support, and shared purpose among a group of people.
An association, society, or community of people linked by a common interest, religion, trade, or ideology; the state or quality of being brothers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/literary in everyday American English; more commonly used in institutional names (e.g., fraternal organizations) in the US.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, perhaps slightly higher in US English due to the historical prevalence of fraternal organisations.
Grammar
How to Use “brotherhood” in a Sentence
brotherhood between [plural noun/pronoun]brotherhood of [plural noun/group name]in brotherhood with [someone]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brotherhood” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The group sought to brotherhood the new recruits through shared rituals.
- (Note: 'brotherhood' as a verb is archaic/very rare)
American English
- (The verb form is essentially obsolete in modern English.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form exists.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form exists.)
adjective
British English
- He gave a brotherhood salute to his fellow members.
- (Note: 'brotherhood' as an attributive noun, not a true adjective)
American English
- The brotherhood bond between firefighters is legendary.
- (Attributive noun use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in corporate ethos statements about teamwork: 'We operate with a spirit of brotherhood and shared goals.'
Academic
Common in sociology, history, religious studies to describe social bonds, guilds, or monastic orders: 'The medieval brotherhood of stonemasons controlled trade secrets.'
Everyday
Used in elevated speech about unity, team sports, or close-knit groups: 'The tragedy created a powerful sense of brotherhood in the community.'
Technical
Not typically a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brotherhood”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “brotherhood”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brotherhood”
- Using as a direct synonym for 'friendship' in all contexts (it's stronger/more formal).
- Using plural 'brotherhoods' incorrectly for the uncountable abstract sense (e.g., 'There was a strong brotherhoods between them' is wrong).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Historically and etymologically, yes, but in modern usage, especially in the abstract sense (e.g., 'brotherhood of man'), it is often understood as gender-inclusive, meaning 'human fellowship'. For explicitly mixed-gender or all-female groups, 'sisterhood', 'fellowship', or 'community' are typically preferred.
They are close synonyms. 'Fraternity' is more formal/Latinate and is the standard term for social organizations at US universities (e.g., college fraternities). 'Brotherhood' can feel more emotional or lofty and is more common in religious and historical contexts.
Yes, when referring to exclusive, secretive, or potentially harmful groups, e.g., 'a criminal brotherhood', 'a secret brotherhood plotting against the state'. The word itself is neutral; the context provides the negative connotation.
Not in casual chat. It belongs to a more formal or elevated register. In everyday speech, people are more likely to use words like 'friendship', 'team spirit', 'closeness', or 'camaraderie'.
The relationship between brothers.
Brotherhood is usually formal, literary, institutional in register.
Brotherhood: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrʌðəhʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrʌðɚˌhʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Band of brothers”
- “Brotherhood of man”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'brother' + 'hood' (like 'neighbourhood'). A 'hood' is a state or condition. So, brotherhood is the state of being like brothers.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL BONDS ARE FAMILIAL TIES (The group is a family).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'brotherhood' LEAST likely to be used?