brotherhood

/ˈbrʌðəhʊd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbrʌðərhʊd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbrə-t͟hər-ˌhu̇d/ (ame, mw)

brotherhood — noun

  • brotherhoodsingular
  • brotherhoodsplural

1. A group of people who share the same profession, beliefs, or purpose, especially

1.名詞B2
釋義

A group of people who share the same profession, beliefs, or purpose, especially one formed for mutual support or a shared mission.

例句

The monastic brotherhood welcomed three new members into their community last spring.

monastic brotherhood for religious groups

An international brotherhood of pilots meets every year to discuss aviation safety standards.

international brotherhood of [profession]

同義詞
  • society

    broader term, less tied to a specific profession or mission

  • association

    more formal and legal in tone

  • union

    specifically refers to labor or trade organizations

文法句型

the [adjective] brotherhood

the brotherhood of [profession / belief group]

用法筆記

This sense refers to an actual organized group, not just a feeling. The group is often named with an adjective (monastic brotherhood) or an of-phrase (brotherhood of engineers).

常見錯誤

❌The brotherhood of nurses feels very warm' (when describing friendliness).
✅The brotherhood of nurses includes members from over thirty countries.
💡Use this sense for the organization itself, not for the emotional bond.

2. A strong feeling of closeness, trust, and loyalty between people who share diffi

2.名詞B2
釋義

A strong feeling of closeness, trust, and loyalty between people who share difficult experiences, work together, or strive toward a common goal.

例句

A deep sense of brotherhood united the firefighters after years of facing dangerous situations together.

sense of brotherhood + among a group

Nalini found a warm brotherhood among her teammates after months of early-morning training.

同義詞
  • camaraderie

    more informal and tied to everyday group experiences rather than a deep moral bond

  • fellowship

    adds a sense of shared mission or purpose, often in religious or intellectual circles

  • solidarity

    focuses on political or social unity in support of a cause

  • kinship

    broader, includes any family-like connection, not limited to men

反義詞
  • hostility

    brotherhood implies warmth and support; hostility is its opposite

  • enmity

    formal term for a state of active dislike or opposition

文法句型

a / the sense of brotherhood

a / the spirit of brotherhood

brotherhood among [group]

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense describes a feeling, not a formal group. It appears very often in the phrases 'sense of brotherhood' and 'spirit of brotherhood' and is most common in contexts involving shared hardship (military, emergency services, sports teams).

常見錯誤

❌The monastic brotherhood had a strong brotherhood.
✅The monks shared a deep brotherhood after years of living together.
💡Avoid using the same word for the group (sense 1) and the feeling (sense 2) in the same sentence.

3. The family tie that connects male siblings who share at least one parent.

3.名詞B2
釋義

The family tie that connects male siblings who share at least one parent.

例句

The two brothers celebrated their brotherhood with a yearly fishing trip that began in their childhood.

celebrate brotherhood — annual tradition

An older brother knew his sense of brotherhood meant protecting his younger sibling, no matter what.

同義詞
  • kinship

    broader term that covers all family relationships, not just brothers

文法句型

the brotherhood between [brothers]

bond / ties of brotherhood

用法筆記

This sense is the most literal and refers to actual male siblings, not a metaphorical bond. Distinguish it from sense 2, where 'brotherhood' describes a feeling between unrelated people.

常見錯誤

❌My sister and I have a close brotherhood.
✅My brothers and I have a close brotherhood.
💡Brotherhood specifically describes the relationship between brothers, not between siblings of different genders.