brethren
Brethren (noun) means an old-fashioned or formal plural of "brother", used especially for members of a religious, fraternal, or shared community. Example: “The preacher addressed the brethren gathered in the hall.”
How to use brethren
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA formal, old-fashioned word for "brothers", usually used for fellow members of a church, order, or cause rather than literal siblings.
Rarely used in everyday speech — mainly found in religious, ceremonial, or historical contexts.
Word forms
more brethren comparative, most brethren superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The preacher addressed the _____ gathered in the hall.
Etymology
An archaic plural of "brother" that survived in religious and ceremonial English even after "brothers" became the everyday plural.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “brethren” mean?
The word “brethren” means an old-fashioned or formal plural of "brother", used especially for members of a religious, fraternal, or shared community. In plain terms, a formal, old-fashioned word for "brothers", usually used for fellow members of a church, order, or cause rather than literal siblings.
How do you pronounce “brethren”?
“Brethren” is pronounced BREHTH-ruhn (/ˈbɹɛðɹən/ in IPA).
How do you use “brethren” in a sentence?
Here is “brethren” used in a sentence: “The preacher addressed the brethren gathered in the hall.”
What is another word for “brethren”?
Words with a similar meaning to “brethren” include Dunkard, Dunker, German Baptist Brethren, German Baptist and Tunker.
What part of speech is “brethren”?
“Brethren” is a noun.
Is “brethren” a common word?
“Brethren” is an uncommon word in modern English.