# frat

/fɹˈæt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/frat
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a social club for male students at a college or university. These groups often have their own houses where members live and host parties together.

For teachers: a social organization for male undergraduate students at a college or university, typically identified by Greek letters. Often used as a shortened form of 'fraternity' in informal contexts.

## Examples

- He decided to join a frat during his first year of college.
- The university administration introduced stricter rules for every frat on campus to prevent loud parties late at night.
- While some students view the frat system as a vital source of lifelong networking, others criticize it for promoting an exclusive and sometimes rowdy social culture.

## Usage notes

- Informal shortening of 'fraternity'; often carries a slightly more casual or sometimes stereotypical connotation than the full word.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.