noun
Uncommon
brothel
BRO-thuhl
Brothel (noun) means a house where people pay for sex with prostitutes. Example: “The police raided an illegal brothel in the city centre.”
noun
1
A house where people pay for sex with prostitutes.
"The police raided an illegal brothel in the city centre."
How to use brothel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA building where sex is sold as a business.
When to use it
A blunt, clinical term — mostly used in news, legal, or historical contexts rather than casual conversation.
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Word forms
- Plural
- brothels
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The police raided an illegal _____ in the city centre.
Etymology
Originally "brothel-house", combining an old word for a disreputable person with "house" — the sense narrowed over time to mean specifically a house of prostitution.
Synonyms
View more →
bagnio
bawdy house
bawdyhouse
brothel house
cat house
cat-house
common house
escort agency
leaping-house
hookshop
prostibule
riding academy
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of brothel?
"brothel" (noun) means a house where people pay for sex with prostitutes.
What is another word for brothel?
Other words for "brothel" include bagnio, bawdy house, bawdyhouse, brothel house, cat house, cat-house.
How do you use brothel in a sentence?
Example: "The police raided an illegal brothel in the city centre."
