sister
noun
sis·ter ˈsi-stər 
1
: a female who has one or both parents in common with another
2
often capitalized
a
: a member of a women's religious order (as of nuns or deaconesses)
especially : one of a Roman Catholic congregation under simple vows
b
: a girl or woman who is a member of a Christian church
3
a
: a girl or woman regarded as a comrade
b
: a girl or woman who shares with another a common national or racial origin
especially : a Black girl or woman
4
: one that is closely similar to or associated with another
sister cities
5
chiefly British : nurse
6
a
: girl, woman
b
: person —usually used in the phrase weak sister
7
: a member of a sorority
Example Sentences
The sisters live in the convent.
Recent Examples on the Web In addition to my frustration with my parents, my sister (who is in her 40s) was living down south with her boyfriend when their relationship imploded. —
Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 2 Feb. 2023 Princess Elizabeth visited the Foundling Hospital Day Nursery in July 1936 with her grandmother Queen Mary and her sister Princess Margaret. —Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, 2 Feb. 2023 Pruitt had actually concluded his shopping at Bargain Town on the store’s final day but a phone call from his sister gave him a bonus visit. —Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times, al, 2 Feb. 2023 That prompted me to want to look at my sister's death record. —Health Editorial Team, Health, 1 Feb. 2023 Her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and had her lymph nodes removed; the woman on the call was diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia, which is not cancer but is considered a precursor that puts a woman at high risk. —Susan Dominus, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2023 Chloe Bailey — one half of Chloe x Halle, Beyoncé protégé, That Girl — plays her sister Marissa, and Damson Idris her boyfriend. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 1 Feb. 2023 Rocky might be growing quickly, but Gellar and Prinze Jr. are doing their best to protect him and his sister from life in the spotlight. —Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 20 Jan. 2023 Mom and Grandma took my sister and me out to the grass, then inside the building to wait. —Melissa Mora Hidalgo, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2023 See More
Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 2 Feb. 2023 Princess Elizabeth visited the Foundling Hospital Day Nursery in July 1936 with her grandmother Queen Mary and her sister Princess Margaret. —Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, 2 Feb. 2023 Pruitt had actually concluded his shopping at Bargain Town on the store’s final day but a phone call from his sister gave him a bonus visit. —Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times, al, 2 Feb. 2023 That prompted me to want to look at my sister's death record. —Health Editorial Team, Health, 1 Feb. 2023 Her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer and had her lymph nodes removed; the woman on the call was diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia, which is not cancer but is considered a precursor that puts a woman at high risk. —Susan Dominus, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2023 Chloe Bailey — one half of Chloe x Halle, Beyoncé protégé, That Girl — plays her sister Marissa, and Damson Idris her boyfriend. —Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 1 Feb. 2023 Rocky might be growing quickly, but Gellar and Prinze Jr. are doing their best to protect him and his sister from life in the spotlight. —Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 20 Jan. 2023 Mom and Grandma took my sister and me out to the grass, then inside the building to wait. —Melissa Mora Hidalgo, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English suster, sister, partly from Old English sweostor and partly from Old Norse systir sister; akin to Latin soror sister, Sanskrit svasṛ
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing sister
Kids Definition
sister
noun sis·ter ˈsis-tər
1
: a female who has one or both parents in common with another individual
2
often capitalized : a member of a religious community of women : nun
3
a
: a fellow female member of a group
b
: a girl or woman who shares a common national or racial origin with another
4
: one that is closely similar to or associated with another
sister schools
sister ships
5
chiefly British : nurse entry 1 sense 2
sisterly adjective or adverb
Medical Definition
sister
noun sis·ter ˈsis-tər
chiefly British
: a head nurse in a hospital ward or clinic
broadly : nurse
sister
noun
1
as in brother
a female connected with another person by a common parent She plans to spend her birthday with her twin sister. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- brother
- sibling
- cousin
- stepsister
- stepbrother
- relative
- kinsman
- kinswoman
- family
- relation
- in-law
- tribe
- house
- kindred
- people
- clan
- kinfolk
- kinfolks
- kinsfolk
- race
- folk
- lineage
- blood
- kissing cousin
- stock
- line
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonrelative
2
as in nun
a member of a religious community of women Many of the sisters in the convent participate in community outreach programs. Synonyms & Similar Words
- nun
- monk
- religious
- mother superior
- priestess
- abbess
- novice
- prioress
- father
- preacher
- bishop
- deaconess
- friar
- anchoress
- reverend
- deacon
- high priestess
- conventual
- votary
- divine
- Reverend Mother
- cloistress
- dean
- cleric
- archbishop
- ancress
- clergywoman
- clergyman
- clerical
- monastic
- mendicant
- minister
- pastor
- abbot
- pope
- clerk
- oblate
- rector
- diocesan
- missionary
- high priest
- ecclesiastic
- prelate
- dominie
- presbyter
- vicar
- archpriest
- clergyperson
- churchman
- padre
- confessor
- monsignor
- parson
- chaplain
- abbé
- shepherd
- curé
- curate
- evangelist
- sky pilot
- Holy Joe
- revivalist
- missioner
- missionizer
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lay reader
- layman
- secular
- layperson
- lector
3
as in friend
a woman with whom one feels a sense of solidarity We started a web site for women entrepreneurs to connect with our sisters around the globe. Synonyms & Similar Words
- friend
- partner
- colleague
- peer
- buddy
- brother
- pal
- associate
- comrade
- acquaintance
- confidant
- confidante
- chum
- compadre
- intimate
- musketeer
- familiar
- amigo
- alter ego
- crony
- fellow
- companion
- accomplice
- cohort
- ally
- collaborator
- hearty
- supporter
- mate
- benefactor
- blood brother
- confederate
- sport
- hobnobber
- pen pal
- main man
- abettor
- sympathizer
- friendly
- abetter
- well-wisher
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- competitor
- rival
- opponent
- adversary
- antagonist
- enemy
- foe
- nemesis
- archenemy