fraternity

noun

fra·​ter·​ni·​ty frə-ˈtər-nə-tē 

plural fraternities

1

: a group of people associated or formally organized for a common purpose, interest, or pleasure: such as

a

: a fraternal order

b

: guild sense 1

c

: a men's student organization formed chiefly for social purposes having secret rites and a name consisting of Greek letters

d

: a student organization for scholastic, professional, or extracurricular activities

a debating fraternity

2

: the quality or state of being brothers : brotherliness

3

: persons of the same class, profession, character, or tastes

the racetrack fraternity

Synonyms

• association
• board
• brotherhood
• chamber
• club
• college
• congress
• consortium
• council
• fellowship
• guild
• gild
• institute
• institution
• league
• order
• organization
• society
• sodality

Examples of fraternity in a Sentence

an atmosphere of fraternity and cooperation

a firm believer in community service and a dedicated member of the local fraternity of Good Samaritans

Recent Examples on the Web

There was a college homecoming feel with members of the Divine Nine, the network of Black fraternities and sororities, stepping and strolling to upbeat music. —Curtis Bunn, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024

Junior Charlie McGee became the first college student with special needs to be accepted into a fraternity at Clemson University, CBS News reported. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

This year, a total of six fraternities and five sororities at Clemson welcomed students from ClemsonLIFE. —Steve Hartman, CBS News, 25 Oct. 2024

When a brutal hazing incident threatens to shut down all fraternity and sorority operations on campus, these cousins hatch a plan for Lucien to seduce Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the Vice President of the United States who's a student at the university. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fraternity

• inter-fraternity

Kids Definition

fraternity

noun

fra·​ter·​ni·​ty frə-ˈtər-nət-ē 

plural fraternities

1

: a social, honorary, or professional organization

especially : a social club of male college students

2

: brotherhood sense 1, brotherliness