bro

noun

ˈbrō 

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

Olsen will play efficiency expert Gwen, while Haber will star as Hunter, whose bro energy will upset the balance of Olympia's team. —Sabienna Bowman, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025

Wright Olsen will play Gwen, an efficiency expert analyzing the firm, and Haber as Hunter, a younger associate from the floater pool who is a total bro. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2025

Kang and Appelhans also aimed to capture the diversity of the fans, from kids to gym bros to women who dress in the image of their idols. —Eliza Berman, Time, 9 Dec. 2025

Their unpredictably left me exposed to noises like car horns, crying babies and gym bro grunts. —Mike Winters, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

by alteration

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing bro

• bro-ey

Rhymes for bro

• beau
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux
• faux

Kids Definition

bro

noun

ˈbrō 

1

informal : brother sense 1

2

slang : brother sense 3