older sibling
Born-before family member
An older sibling is a brother or sister born before oneself.
The term is useful when gender is unknown, irrelevant, or when speaking generally: As the older sibling, she felt responsible for her younger brothers.
Older siblings often serve as role models, caretakers, or—in less harmonious families—tormentors.
- brotherMale with shared parents
- big brotherOlder male sibling
- sisterFemale sibling
- big sisterOlder female sibling
- birth orderSequence among siblings
middle child · protective · bossy · hand-me-downs · babysitter · rivalry · mentor · bickering · teasing · sharing · bedroom · inheritance · birthright · responsible · mature · trailblazer · pecking order · favoritism
- sibling bondsbrother, sister, twin, twinship, birth order
- caregiverscaregiver, parents, carer, mothers, babysitter
- siblingsbrother, sister, twins, brothers, sisters
- birth orderfirstborn, lastborn, middle child, only child, youngest
- sibling storiesCain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Hansel and Gretel, Romulus and Remus, Little Women
birth order within family
older siblinglittle brother
Younger male sibling
little sister · younger brother · younger sister · baby of the family · youngest child