noun
brethren
BREHTH-ruhn
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."
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.
Word Forms
more brethren comparative, most brethren superlative
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Etymology
An archaic plural of "brother" that survived in religious and ceremonial English even after "brothers" became the everyday plural.