plural bros
1
informal : brother
… Tommy has a worldview that's larger than his baby bro's.Leah Rozen
2
US slang
a
: a male friend
hanging out with his bros
One quirky edge the Olympics haven't yet sanded away is the habit of extreme athletes to stick together. Like, no matter where we're from, we're all bros. That kind of thing.Devin Gordon et al.
b
used as a friendly way of addressing a man or boy
Hey, bro, what's up?
Catch you later, bro.
c
: a young male who is part of a group of similar male friends stereotypically characterized as hearty, athletic, self-confident, party-loving, etc.
The recent season of "Project Greenlight," on HBO, made explicit how resistant to race talk Hollywood can be, a stifling culture of bros bonding with mirror versions of themselves.Emily Nussbaum
These were nerds who could pass for bros on a dorm-room sofa …Ben McGrath
often used before another noun
It's the continuation of the bro culture. In my experience, in this world right now, white guys have an advantage. In their training, they've been given access and tools that I haven't. White men get behind each other and empower themselves.Tanya Holland

Examples of bro in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That's how Drake helped change hip-hop, and in Hunt's wake, country bros were replaced by more sensitive and vulnerable male stars. Journal Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2024 Have fun up with the stars little bro, you’re missed. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 Like, Oasis’ battling Gallaghers, or some gentler brand of bros? Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 This isn't the first time Mandi has accompanied her bro to a big Hollywood event. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2024 Kimmel, once an anodyne bro, now cheerfully torments the far-right conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell and keeps tabs on the antics of the Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024 Crossy Road on Hard Mode Where better to spot a tech bro than in his natural habitat, San Jose? Chandra Steele, PCMAG, 5 Feb. 2024 Way, Miami; 305-421-8600) has discerning bros looking to party in the lap of luxury covered. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Conversely, no scribe or screen performer is worried about some tech bro in fancy ski goggles coming to steal their job. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bro.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

by alteration

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bro was circa 1530

Dictionary Entries Near bro

Cite this Entry

“Bro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bro. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

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