sibling
SIB-ling
/ˈsɪb.lɪŋ/
Each of two or more children or offspring having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister.
Sibling is a gender-neutral, objective term. It is often used in scientific, psychological, or formal contexts where 'brother or sister' would be too wordy.
The story behind the word. In Old English, a 'sibling' was simply any relative or kinsman. The word died out of common usage in the Middle Ages but was brilliantly revived by anthropologists in 1903 who needed a convenient, gender-neutral English word for 'brother or sister'.
Word relationships
- brother/sister: Brother and sister are gender-specific and carry more emotional warmth, while sibling is neutral and scientific.
- only child: An only child has no siblings.
Commonly confused with
- relative: A relative is any family member, while a sibling is specifically a brother or sister sharing parents.
Word family
- siblinghood (noun): The state of being siblings.
Collocations
- sibling rivalry
- older sibling
- younger sibling
- sibling bond
Example sentences
- "The researchers studied the effects of sibling rivalry on childhood development." A psychological study on family dynamics.
- "Do you have any siblings, or are you an only child?" A personal conversation about family.
Memory hook
Think of 'sib' as 'similar' and 'ling' as 'little'. Siblings are similar little people from the same family. Akin from birth.
When not to use
While common, in highly emotional or poetic contexts, 'brother' or 'sister' is often preferred for its warmth.
Fun facts
- The revival of 'sibling' in 1903 is one of the most successful examples of a 'dead' English word being successfully brought back to life for scientific precision.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.