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
7
: a member of a sorority
Examples of sister in a Sentence
The sisters live in the convent.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ask her to stop with the mean-spirited stories about your sister — or else.
—
Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Similarly, a pair of individuals thought to be sisters, or mother and daughter, were found to include at least one genetic male.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
In Flat Rock, James Smith, 28, and his sister, Samantha, 24, walked into the Flat Rock Community Center confident in their decisions in casting their votes.
—Detroit Free Press Staff, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
The pair became friends, with Jordan’s sister Emma, a singer-songwriter, getting introduced to the group.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sister 
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Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Similarly, a pair of individuals thought to be sisters, or mother and daughter, were found to include at least one genetic male.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
In Flat Rock, James Smith, 28, and his sister, Samantha, 24, walked into the Flat Rock Community Center confident in their decisions in casting their votes.
—Detroit Free Press Staff, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
The pair became friends, with Jordan’s sister Emma, a singer-songwriter, getting introduced to the group.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sister
Dictionary Entries Near sister
Cite this Entry
“Sister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sister. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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