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

But the permit listed a smaller number of attendees than who eventually descended on the park, despite officers working with the fraternity to coordinate, Henry said. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2025

With this win, McIlroy joins the ranks of golf's most exclusive fraternity. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025

Courtney Gilmartin, a spokesperson at the University of Central Florida, confirmed that police at the institution are investigating chapters of the Alpha Tau Omega and Delta Upsilon fraternities following accusations of hazing. —arkansasonline.com, 12 Mar. 2025

Community reacts: Southern University student and band member dies off-campus in fraternity ritual Police: Men changed story about what happened to pledge Detectives have interviewed over a dozen people to find out what happened to Wilson, Chief Morse said. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fraternity

• inter-fraternity

Rhymes for fraternity

• eternity
• maternity
• modernity
• paternity
• confraternity
• taciturnity

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