noun
Uncommon
brethren
BREHTH-ruhn
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.”
noun
1
An old-fashioned or formal plural of "brother", used especially for members of a religious, fraternal, or shared community.
"The preacher addressed the brethren gathered in the hall."
"Members refer to each other as brethren within the order."
"The monks welcomed their visiting brethren with fresh bread and warm soup."
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.
When to use it
Rarely used in everyday speech — mainly found in religious, ceremonial, or historical contexts.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more brethren
- Superlative
- most brethren
Fill the gap
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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.
