brother-zone

verb

To view or categorize someone as a brotherly figure, rather than a potential romantic partner.

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Meanings

verbbrother-zone (third-person singular simple present brother-zones, present participle brother-zoning, simple past and past participle brother-zoned)

present singular third person brother-zones · participle present brother-zoning · participle past brother-zoned · past brother-zoned

  1. slangtransitiveTo view or categorize someone as a brotherly figure, rather than a potential romantic partner.

Origin

From brother + zone, modelled on earlier friend-zone.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

brother-zone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brother-zone

MLA

“brother-zone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brother-zone. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “brother-zone,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/brother-zone.

Source: brother-zone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.