half brother
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does half brother mean? A half brother is a brother who is related to his sibling(s) through only one parent.This typically means that they share only one biological parent (not both). For example, when a person’s parent has a son with another partner (who is not the person’s parent), the son is considered the person’s half brother.The term half sister is used in the same way. Half-sibling is a gender-neutral way of saying the same thing.In contrast, the words stepbrother, stepsister, and stepsibling refer to those who have a sibling relationship (often based on the remarriage of their parents to other partners) but who do not share a biological parent.The word half in half brother and its related terms only refers to the biological relationship. Half brothers may have close relationships with their siblings, and many people simply call their half brother their brother.Modifiers such as maternal and paternal are sometimes used to specify which biological parent the siblings have in common.Example: Over the holidays, I got together with my maternal half brother and my paternal half sister and we had a great time.
Etymology
Origin of half brother
Middle English word dating back to 1300–50
Compare meaning
How does half-brother compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
My dad is in Northern California with his family, including my half brother.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026
She was saved by her half brother Billy after he smelled smoke.
From Salon • Dec. 27, 2023
Her vehicle was built by Walt Arfons, who was in the thick of competing against his half brother, Art, and Breedlove.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 26, 2023
Today, Narziso, her mother and her 20-year-old half brother live together in Tijuana.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2023
“Nay, I—I am apprenticed to my half brother, Gebu the stonecutter.”
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
