brotherhood
gb/bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/ us/bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
B2
English
~ 9000
összetartás, bajtársiasság, testvériség, egyetemes testvériség, az emberiség testvérisége
NOUN
B2
1
összetartás
B1
Usage pattern:
a brotherhood of [people]
Military service created a deep brotherhood among the soldiers.
A katonai szolgálat mély bajtársiasságot alakított ki a katonák között.
The volunteers felt a strong brotherhood as they worked side by side after the storm.
A vihar után az önkéntesek erős összetartást éreztek, miközben vállvetve dolgoztak.
Sports can build a sense of brotherhood that lasts long after the season ends.
Protesters spoke of the brotherhood they discovered while marching together for change.
In that small village there was a quiet brotherhood between neighbors who always helped one another.
Learner examples
There is a real brotherhood in our team.
A csapatunkban igazi összetartás van.
The students felt brotherhood after they finished the hard project together.
A diákok között összetartás alakult ki, miután együtt befejezték a nehéz projektet.
Traveling together created a brotherhood among the group.
Good leaders try to build brotherhood, not hate.
They worked in brotherhood to solve the problem.
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'brotherhood' is only about male family members. In modern English it is often used for a strong friendly feeling and support inside any group, not only between biological brothers. Learners also sometimes say *'a brotherhood feeling'* instead of the more natural 'a feeling of brotherhood' or 'a sense of brotherhood'.
Meaning
friendship and solidarity in a group
Collocations
sense of brotherhood
|spirit of brotherhood
|bond of brotherhood
|true brotherhood
|promote brotherhood
|feel a brotherhood
Synonyms
camaraderie (Often suggests warm, cheerful friendship among people who spend a lot of time together, such as teammates or coworkers.)
|
solidarity (Focuses more on standing together in support, especially in political, social, or labor struggles.)
Antonyms
hostility (Describes unfriendly or aggressive feelings between people instead of warm, united feelings.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A strong feeling of friendship and help between people who feel they are on the same team.
A close feeling of friendship, support, and loyalty shared among people who see themselves as a united group.
NOUN
B2
2
testvériség
B2
Usage pattern:
join the brotherhood
He left his job to join a religious brotherhood devoted to helping the poor.
Otthagyta az állását, hogy csatlakozzon egy vallási testvériséghez, amely a szegények segítésének szentelte magát.
The criminal brotherhood controlled much of the city’s drug trade.
A bűnözői testvériség a város drogkereskedelmének nagy részét ellenőrizte.
Members of the brotherhood meet every month to discuss how to support new workers.
The brotherhood of firefighters organized a fundraiser for injured colleagues.
Within the medical brotherhood, her research quickly became widely respected.
Learner examples
He became a member of the brotherhood.
Tagja lett a testvériségnek.
The brotherhood meets every Friday night.
A testvériség minden péntek este találkozik.
A religious brotherhood runs the small hospital.
The police said a secret brotherhood was behind the crime.
Many young men want to join the brotherhood of engineers.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the emotional sense of 'brotherhood'. Here it refers to an actual group or organization, not just the feeling. Also, do not say *'a brothers group'* when you mean an organized 'brotherhood'.
Meaning
association or society of people
Collocations
religious brotherhood
|secret brotherhood
|the criminal brotherhood
|labor brotherhood
|member of the brotherhood
|join the brotherhood
Synonyms
fraternity (Often used for male student organizations in universities or for close professional groups; slightly more formal or specific in some contexts.)
|
order (Commonly used for religious or chivalric groups with rules and traditions; sounds more formal and traditional than 'brotherhood'.)
Antonyms
outsiders (Refers to people who are not members of the group, the opposite of those inside the brotherhood.)
Themes
society
|work
|religion
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A group or club of people, often men, who join together because they share the same job, religion, or goal.
An organized group or society of people, especially men, who share a common profession, religion, or purpose.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
the brotherhood of [group]
The speech called for a new sense of brotherhood among nations.
A beszéd a nemzetek közötti újfajta testvériségre szólított fel.
Many religious traditions teach the brotherhood of man.
Sok vallási hagyomány az emberiség testvériségét hirdeti.
She believed that science could strengthen human brotherhood by showing how similar we all are.
The novel imagines a future based on universal brotherhood rather than competition.
In his poem, the sea becomes a symbol of brotherhood connecting all peoples.
Learner examples
Some people dream of a world of universal brotherhood.
Vannak, akik egy egyetemes testvériségen alapuló világról álmodnak.
The leader spoke about the brotherhood of all people.
A vezető minden ember testvériségéről beszélt.
Their religion teaches human brotherhood and peace.
They worked for brotherhood between the two countries.
The song is about the brotherhood of man.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this sense is only about male people because of 'brother'. In modern use, 'brotherhood' here usually includes all people, not just men, especially in phrases like 'the brotherhood of man' or 'universal brotherhood'.
Meaning
all people as one family
Collocations
the brotherhood of man
|universal brotherhood
|human brotherhood
|brotherhood of nations
|ideal of brotherhood
|vision of brotherhood
Synonyms
humanity (Can mean all human beings, but also the quality of being kind; 'brotherhood' in this sense focuses on unity among all people.)
Antonyms
division (Suggests people are separated by conflict or difference instead of being united as one family.)
Themes
philosophy
|society
|religion
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
All people in the world seen as one big family.
All human beings considered as a single family or united community.
Grammar
Dictionary form
brotherhood
IPA
GB/bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
US/bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
Syllables & stress
broth - er - hood (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (broth)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: brotherhood
- Plural: brotherhood, brotherhoods
Word family
Forms
brotherhoods
noun
Core family
brother
noun A1
brotherly
adjective
Advanced or less common
brotherliness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unbrotherly
adjective
Expressions
a sense of brotherhood
1/ə sˈɛns əv bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
feeling of strong group unity
A strong feeling that people in a group are close friends and will help each other.
Examples
- Living in the dorm created a sense of brotherhood among the students.
- The coach tried to build a sense of brotherhood in the team before the final game.
- Working through the night gave the staff a new sense of brotherhood.
bond of brotherhood
1/bˈɑnd əv bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
strong loyal group connection
A very strong link of trust and help that joins people in a group.
Examples
- The bond of brotherhood they formed in school lasted their whole lives.
- Shared danger can create a powerful bond of brotherhood between strangers.
- The bond of brotherhood among the miners was clear during the strike.
join the brotherhood
1/d͡ʒˈɔɪn ðə bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
become member of a brotherhood
To enter and become part of a brotherhood group.
Examples
- He decided to join the brotherhood after attending several of their meetings.
- New recruits must complete a year of training before they can join the brotherhood.
- She turned down the offer to join the brotherhood because she valued her independence.
member of the brotherhood
1/mˈɛmbɚ əv ðə bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
person in a brotherhood
Someone who belongs to a brotherhood group or society.
Examples
- Every member of the brotherhood must take a vow of secrecy.
- As a member of the brotherhood, he was expected to help new arrivals.
- Only members of the brotherhood were allowed into the inner room.
spirit of brotherhood
1/spˈɪɹɪt əv bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
attitude of unity and support
A way of thinking and feeling that people should be kind to each other and stand together.
Examples
- They entered negotiations in a spirit of brotherhood and cooperation.
- The festival was held to celebrate peace and a spirit of brotherhood between cultures.
- The charity asked people to give in a spirit of brotherhood.
the brotherhood of man
1/ðə bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd əv mˈæn/
fixed phrase
literary
all humans as one family
All people in the world seen as one family that should live in peace.
Examples
- The song imagines the brotherhood of man living without borders or war.
- Many peace movements in the 20th century were inspired by the idea of the brotherhood of man.
- He spoke passionately about the brotherhood of man and the need for global cooperation.
universal brotherhood
1/jˌunəvˈɚsəl bɹˈʌðɚhˌʊd/
fixed phrase
unity of all people
The idea that all people in the world are connected and should care for each other.
Examples
- The philosopher wrote about universal brotherhood as the highest human ideal.
- Their movement promotes universal brotherhood across races and religions.
- He saw international education as a path toward universal brotherhood.