Meaning & use
brotherhood of man
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseformalliterary
the idea that all people are like one family and should treat each other with care and respect
Grammar: Always used with 'the' and followed by 'of man'; it is not used in the plural.
Patterns
- the brotherhood of man
- a vision of the brotherhood of man
The speech ended with a call for the brotherhood of man.
Many religions teach the brotherhood of man and the importance of kindness.
Her poetry often expresses a deep belief in the brotherhood of man.
Common combinations
- a belief in the brotherhood of man
- His belief in the brotherhood of man guided his charity work.
- a vision of the brotherhood of man
- The leader offered a vision of the brotherhood of man that inspired many.
- the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God
- The old hymn speaks of the brotherhood of man and the fatherhood of God.
- a call for the brotherhood of man
- The protest ended with a call for the brotherhood of man.
Synonyms and how they differ
- human solidarity
- More modern and political; it can refer to practical unity among people, while 'brotherhood of man' is more poetic and idealistic.
- fellowship
- Suggests friendly company among a group, not the whole human race, so it is narrower and less grand.
Word family
- brotherhood noun
- A group of men or a feeling of friendship, but without the universal, grand sense of the phrase.
Commonly confused: brotherhood of man or brotherhood?
brotherhood of man vs brotherhood
As a single word it often means a male religious group or union; the full phrase 'brotherhood of man' is about all humanity.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'brotherhood of man' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is fixed and usually means the ideal of human unity; 'called for the brotherhood of man' fits. The others treat it as a countable group, a plural subject, or a verb, which is wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “brotherhood of man”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.