A sibling is a brother or sister, someone who has the same parents as you. It can refer to either gender.
“Sibling” comes from Old English “sweostor” (sister) and an old root “sib,” meaning kin or relatedness, plus the diminutive “-ling.” It was rare for centuries and became common only in the 20th century as a neutral term. The ‘sib’ part survives in ‘sibling’ and in the idea of kinship.
Sibling sounds modern, but its ‘sib’ core is ancient and once simply meant ‘related by blood.’ English revived and standardized it when people wanted a gender-neutral alternative to ‘brothers and sisters.’ It’s a great example of an old root redesigned for new social needs.
'Sibling' emerged as a useful gender‑neutral alternative to 'brother' and 'sister' in many contexts, especially as awareness of non‑binary identities and inclusive language grew. It counters assumptions that family relationships must always be gendered in reference.
Use 'sibling' when gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when referring to groups that may include multiple genders. This supports accurate and inclusive reference to family roles.
["brother or sister","family member"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.