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
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
The event was electrified with pomp and fraternal celebration rarely seen in the modern world.
—
Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2025
But only Pope John XXIII—whose fraternal letter to President John F. Kennedy and the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev is thought to have eased the Cuban missile crisis—can be credited with an act of statecraft that helped preserve peace between nations.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
The action sequel, which sees Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal return as fraternal assassins, is looking at a $25 million opening weekend.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025
Researchers in Australia found that 60% to 70% of twins in one study both had environmental allergies, and identical twins were more likely to share allergies than fraternal (nonidentical) twins.
—Breanne Hayes Haney, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraternal
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Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 11 May 2025
But only Pope John XXIII—whose fraternal letter to President John F. Kennedy and the Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev is thought to have eased the Cuban missile crisis—can be credited with an act of statecraft that helped preserve peace between nations.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
The action sequel, which sees Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal return as fraternal assassins, is looking at a $25 million opening weekend.
—J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 26 Apr. 2025
Researchers in Australia found that 60% to 70% of twins in one study both had environmental allergies, and identical twins were more likely to share allergies than fraternal (nonidentical) twins.
—Breanne Hayes Haney, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fraternal
Cite this Entry
“Fraternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fraternal. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fraternal
adjective
fra·ter·nal
frə-ˈtərn-ᵊl
1
a
: of or relating to brothers
b
: of, relating to, or being a fraternity
Medical Definition
fraternal
adjective
fra·ter·nal
frə-ˈtərn-ᵊl
: derived from two ova : dizygotic
fraternal twins
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