# fraternal

/fɹəˈtɝnəɫ/ (US) · /fɹɐtˈɜːnəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fraternal
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. brotherly

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

relating to brothers or the feeling of being like a brother.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. non-identical twins

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing twins who come from two different eggs and do not look exactly the same.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. relating to a society

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

relating to a social group or club, often for men, called a fraternity.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. a non-identical twin

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

one of a pair of twins who are not identical.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The two friends shared a strong fraternal bond.
- The organisation was founded on fraternal principles to provide support and community for its members.
- While identical twins share nearly all their genetic material, fraternal twins are no more genetically similar than any other pair of siblings born at different times.

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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.