A close bond between people who share values or goals, or a group of people united by a common cause.
From Old English 'brotherhad,' combining 'brother' (from Germanic 'broþar') and the suffix '-hood' (state or condition). The compound formation emerged in Middle English and has been used since to describe male solidarity.
The suffix '-hood' in words like 'childhood,' 'neighborhood,' and 'brotherhood' is ancient Germanic, but here's the twist: 'brotherhood' often describes deep bonds between people who aren't actually related at all—it's about chosen family!
The -hood suffix encodes male bonding and kinship; historically excluded women from formal fraternal organizations, civic associations, and power structures.
Use 'community', 'fellowship', 'solidarity', or 'kinship' to include all genders; specify 'brotherhood' only when male-only.
["fellowship","community","solidarity","kinship"]
Women have built parallel institutions (sororities, women's suffrage networks, mutual aid societies) that challenged male-exclusive fraternity models.
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