An old-fashioned or formal word for “brothers,” often used for members of the same group or religion.
From Old English “brēþer” (plural of “brōþor,” brother), which developed into “brethren” as a special plural form. It survived in religious and formal contexts while ordinary speech moved to “brothers.”
“Brethren” is like a time capsule of English, preserving a plural form that most other words abandoned. When you hear it, you’re hearing the echo of medieval English still alive in modern prayers and ceremonies.
Brethren historically referred to male members of religious or fraternal groups and has been used as a supposedly generic masculine that often erased women’s participation. Over time, many communities have shifted to more explicitly inclusive terms.
Avoid brethren as a generic for mixed‑gender groups; use ‘siblings,’ ‘members,’ ‘friends,’ or ‘folks’ depending on context. Reserve brethren only where a specific group self‑identifies with that term and its gendered history is relevant.
["siblings","members","congregation","community","friends","folks"]
When describing historical institutions that used ‘brethren,’ note that women and gender‑diverse people often contributed informally or in parallel organizations without equal recognition.
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