Brotherhood — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈbrə-t͟hər-ˌhu̇d/ broth·er·hood

Meaning & Definition of Brotherhood

Brotherhood (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being brothers
  2. fellowship, alliance
  3. an association (such as a labor union or monastic society) for a particular purpose

Brotherhood (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a group of persons formally joined together for some common interest

    "they're a brotherhood of retired war veterans"

    similar: association, board, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality
    related: collective, commune, community, cooperative, alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership, body, cadre, group, circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch, lot, set, crew, outfit, party, squad, team, branch, chapter, local, faithful, fold, membership, sisterhood, sorority, cabal, camarilla, camorra, confederacy, conspiracy, band, gang, ring, cartel, combine, syndicate

  2. the body of people in a profession or field of activity

    "a family that has been part of the brotherhood of police officers for four generations"

    similar: community, corps, fellowship, fraternity, sodality, vocation
    related: calling, profession, association, club, federation, guild, organization, society

  3. the feeling of closeness and friendship that exists between companions

    "the brotherhood that existed between the medical missionaries and the villagers they served"

    similar: camaraderie, community, companionship, company, comradery, comradeship, fellowship, society
    related: amity, benevolence, cordiality, friendliness, friendship, goodwill, kindliness, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, charity, generosity, affinity, compassion, empathy, sympathy, chumminess, familiarity, inseparability, intimacy, nearness, affection, devotion, fondness, love
    near: forlornness, loneliness, lonesomeness

  4. kindly concern, interest, or support

    "in a display of brotherhood, other writers rushed to the defense of the jailed journalist"

    similar: amity, benevolence, charity, cordiality, cordialness, fellowship, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness
    related: bonhomie, camaraderie, collegiality, community, companionship, company, comradeship, civility, comity, concord, harmony, rapport, rapprochement, generosity, affinity, communion, empathy, kindness, sympathy, tolerance, altruism, philanthropy, selflessness, unselfishness
    opposite: ill will, malevolence, venom
    near: disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Brotherhood

The most common words with a similar meaning to Brotherhood:

association, board, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship, fraternity, guild, institute, institution, league, order, organization, society, sodality, community, corps, vocation, camaraderie, companionship, company, comradery, comradeship, amity, benevolence, charity, cordiality, cordialness, friendliness, friendship, gemütlichkeit, good-fellowship, goodwill, kindliness, neighborliness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Brotherhood

Words with the opposite meaning of Brotherhood:

ill will, malevolence, venom

Related Words for Brotherhood

collective, commune, cooperative, alliance, bloc, camp, coalition, partnership, body, cadre, group, circle, clan, clique, coterie, junta, junto, klatch, lot, set, crew, outfit, party, squad, team, branch, chapter, local, faithful, fold

Near Antonyms of Brotherhood

forlornness, loneliness, lonesomeness, disfavor, intolerance, animosity, antagonism, antipathy, enmity, hate, hatred, hostility, incivility, malice, rancor, belligerency, quarrelsomeness, querulousness

Origin & Etymology of Brotherhood

Middle English brotherhede, brotherhod, alteration of brotherrede, from Old English brōthorrǣden, from brōthor + rǣden condition kindred:2

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Brotherhood

What does "Brotherhood" mean?

"Brotherhood" means the quality or state of being brothers. As a noun, it is defined as: the quality or state of being brothers. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Brotherhood"?

Other words for "Brotherhood" include association, board, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium and council. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Brotherhood" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Brotherhood"?

There are 114 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Brotherhood". Common alternatives include association, board, chamber, club, college, congress, consortium, council, fellowship and fraternity.

What is the opposite of "Brotherhood"?

Antonyms of "Brotherhood" include ill will, malevolence and venom. Near antonyms include forlornness, loneliness, lonesomeness and disfavor.

How do you use "Brotherhood" in a sentence?

Examples of "Brotherhood" in a sentence: "they're a brotherhood of retired war veterans"; "a family that has been part of the brotherhood of police officers for four generations"; "the brotherhood that existed between the medical missionaries and the villagers they served".

Is "Brotherhood" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Brotherhood" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Brotherhood"?

"Brotherhood" is pronounced /ˈbrə-t͟hər-ˌhu̇d/ and divided into syllables as broth·er·hood.

What is the origin of the word "Brotherhood"?

"Brotherhood" comes from Middle English brotherhede, brotherhod, alteration of brotherrede, from Old English brōthorrǣden, from brōthor + rǣden condition kindred:2. First known use: 13th century.