bro-zone

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

1. (slang) To treat as a brother, as opposed to as a romantic interest.
   • 2015 October 27, “Shaina asked: Did you ‘bro-zone’ Sam Milby?”, in SunStar‎^[1]:

     Shaina Magdayao was at a loss for words when she was asked if she really “bro-zoned” Sam Milby, who was romantically linked to her back in 2013.

   • 2018 August 26, Mahir Amir, “Thank God it’s Sunday! Du boys ditch Rakhi scare”, in HT City‎^[2]:

     While Sunday has spoiled the girls’ plans to bro-zone the guys, the male junta on campus couldn’t be happier.

   • 2022, A. L. Graziadei, Icebreaker, Henry Holt and Company, →ISBN:

     Maybe it’s because I could’ve kissed Cauler and instead I bro-zoned him.

• friend zone