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

Unencumbered by the neurosis or abject horniness of his standard live-action roles, Stiller is gently fraternal as the voice of Alex the Lion, the franchise’s core mammal and group leader. —Sean Malin, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024

Share [Findings] Sets of both fraternal and identical twins exhibit internally similar metacognitive abilities, suggesting that metacognition is environmental rather than heritable. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024

Professional success and fraternal affiliation have always had a chicken-and-egg relationship: Do Greek organizations produce leaders, or just attract them? —Jazmine Hughes, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

While the premise suggests kooky fraternal comedies like Adam McKay’s Step-Brothers or Ivan Reitman’s Twins, Brothers lacks the quirkiness of the filmmakers’ earlier work. —Justin Lowe, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Oct. 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