Word
fraternal
Phoneticsfra·ter·nal, stress on the second syllable
US/fɹəˈtɝnəɫ/
UK/fɹɐtˈɜːnəl/
Definitions
01brotherly
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. relating to brothers or the feeling of being like a brother.
adj. pertaining to or befitting a brother or brothers; characterized by brotherly affection.
“The two men shared a fraternal bond after serving in the army together.”
“The treaty was signed in a spirit of fraternal cooperation, aiming to heal the long-standing rift between the two neighbouring nations.”
02non-identical twins
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. describing twins who come from two different eggs and do not look exactly the same.
adj. derived from two separate fertilized ova and therefore not genetically identical.
“Fraternal twins are no more alike than any other pair of siblings.”
“The study compared fraternal and identical twins to determine the relative influence of genetics and environment on cognitive development.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03relating to a society
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. relating to a social group or club, often for men, called a fraternity.
adj. of or pertaining to a fraternity or a society organized for fellowship or mutual aid.
“He joined a fraternal organization that raises money for local charities.”
“The university has strict rules regarding fraternal activities to ensure the safety and inclusion of all students on campus.”
Synonyms
04a non-identical twin
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. one of a pair of twins who are not identical.
n. a fraternal twin; one of two offspring produced from separate ova in the same pregnancy.
“My brother and I are fraternals, so people often don't realize we are twins.”
“While identicals share nearly all their DNA, fraternals share roughly fifty percent, similar to standard siblings born at different times.”
Real-World Examples
“Thus, the Christian West was self-servingly represented as both fraternal and paternal, both equal and superior, and a cultivator of a universal creed that could motivate planetary action.” “The King was said to be "mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways that others do not recognise".” “Middle-layer organizations — above the family but below the state; things like fraternal societies, religious communities, and in particular labor unions — served a crucial role in 20th century democracy.” Etymology
PIE word *bʰréh₂tēr Borrowed from Middle French fraternel, from Medieval Latin frāternālis (“fraternal”), from Latin frāternus (“of or pertaining to a brother, fraternal”), from frāter (“brother”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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