fraternal

adjective

fra·​ter·​nal frə-ˈtər-nᵊl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or involving brothers

fraternal love

b

: of, relating to, or being a fraternity or society

a fraternal order

a fraternal chapter house

2

: derived from two ova : dizygotic

fraternal twins

3

: friendly, brotherly

There was a fraternal feeling among the troops.

fraternalism

frə-ˈtər-nə-ˌliz-əm 

noun

fraternally

frə-ˈtər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• brotherly

Examples of fraternal in a Sentence

He belonged to a fraternal organization.

There was a fraternal feeling among the troops.

Recent Examples on the Web

Later, Hattie hugs a more cynical Turner, which enables him to forge a fraternal bond with Elwood, their friendship a turning point. —Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

West Ninth Street continued to grow throughout this time, but the Great Depression of the 1930s devastated many businesses and fraternal groups. —Helaine Williams, arkansasonline.com, 14 Dec. 2024

In the cafeteria, the boys jeer at him, and a light-skinned kid, off to the side, jeers back, an act Elwood takes as fraternal defense. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024

Madho is the vice president of the influential Desi Society, an umbrella NYPD fraternal group that represents cops of South Asian heritage. —Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin fraternalis, from Latin fraternus, from frater brother — more at brother

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fraternal

• fraternal twin

Kids Definition

fraternal

adjective

fra·​ter·​nal frə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

a

: of or relating to brothers

b

: of, relating to, or being a fraternity

2

: kindly entry 1 sense 2, friendly

fraternally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

fraternal

adjective

fra·​ter·​nal frə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

: derived from two ova : dizygotic

fraternal twins