sibling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sibling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a brother or sister, typically in contexts discussing family relationships or dynamics. Example: "She has two siblings, a brother and a sister, who she is very close to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We must remain focused on difficult to place children: sibling groups, children from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and older children, particularly adolescents.

The Guardian

Sibling hosts Simon and Charlotte Hayward's family history in India stretches back three generations, and fills the hotel's walls and corridors.

The Guardian - Travel

In non-attendee news, rapper Azealia Banks highlighted Lana Del Rey's nomination snubs for 2014's Ultraviolence: Sibling pop-house duo Disclosure and electronic music producer Tourist (part of Smith's winning team for Stay With Me as song of the year) rebranded the whole night The Sammys, in Smith's honour.

The Guardian - Music

"For her it's about attacking the Catholic church," complained Norbert Geis of the Christian Social Union, the CDU's Bavarian sibling.

The Economist

The dismemberment of Reliance by sibling rivalry rather than by commercial pressures seems to belie this.

The Economist

Ms Merkel and Mr Steinmeier both exuding sobriety and competence, but hardly setting passions alight have governed together in a "grand coalition" for the past four years, which gives their contest the feel of sibling rivalry.

The Economist

She is more interested in the emotional texture (which was indeed erotic) of their exclusive brother-sister love, from which William escaped into marriage, breaking Dorothy's heart.The intensity of the Wordsworths' sibling connection has been noted before, but Ms Wilson places it suggestively within the context of its time.

The Economist

But while Great Casterton (population 365) can attract up to 50 for a Sunday morning service, its little sibling generally hosts around a dozen.

The Guardian

The fear of being abandoned by one's parents (Hansel and Gretel), or of being destroyed by (or destroying) a parent or sibling – always disguised as, say, a "wicked stepsister" or "stepmother" – recurs again and again, allowing children to access their darker fantasies.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She said authorities have struggled to find foster carers willing to take in large sibling groups, given an increased focus on keeping vulnerable brothers and sisters together.

The Guardian

I became his little mum, but there are times when he seems like the older sibling – perhaps because he became a parent before I did.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "sibling" when you want a gender-neutral term to refer to a brother or sister. It's particularly useful when the gender is unknown or irrelevant.

Common error

Avoid using "sibling" when you actually mean "cousin". Siblings share parents; cousins share grandparents. Using the wrong term can lead to confusion about family relationships.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sibling" is as a noun. It denotes a person sharing one or both parents with another. This is evident in the Ludwig examples, where "sibling" often refers to family relationships and dynamics.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Lifestyle

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sibling" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun to denote a brother or sister, without specifying gender. According to Ludwig, it's particularly common in News & Media, Lifestyle, and Formal & Business contexts. When using "sibling", avoid confusing it with other family relations like "cousin". Consider alternatives like "brother or sister" or "family member" depending on the desired level of specificity. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is correct and widely applicable in various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

brother or sister

Explicitly defines the relationship as either male or female.

offspring of the same parents

A formal and descriptive way to define the relationship.

blood relative

Broadens the relationship to include any relative sharing blood ties.

family member

A more general term encompassing all relatives.

close relative

Emphasizes the proximity and importance of the family connection.

kin

A formal and less common term for relatives.

relation

A general term indicating a familial connection.

immediate family

Highlights the closeness of the family relationship.

brother

Specifies a male sibling.

sister

Specifies a female sibling.

FAQs

How to use "sibling" in a sentence?

You can use "sibling" to refer to a brother or sister in a gender-neutral way. For example, "Each child deserves the same opportunities, regardless of birth order or which "sibling" is older."

What can I say instead of "sibling"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "brother or sister", "family member", or "blood relative".

Which is correct, "sibling" or "siblings"?

"Sibling" is singular, referring to one brother or sister. "Siblings" is plural, referring to two or more brothers and/or sisters. For example, "She has one "sibling"" versus "She has three "siblings"".

Is "sibling" a formal or informal term?

"Sibling" is a neutral term, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's more precise than general terms like ""family member"" but less clinical than terms like ""blood relative"".