English Reference
noun

fraternity

n.
US /fɹəˈtɝnəti/ UK /fɹɐtˈɜːnɪti/ fra·ter·ni·ty UK spelling fraternities, fraternity's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a group of people who share the same job, interests, or beliefs.

    a group of people sharing a common profession, interest, or set of beliefs, often viewed as a collective body.

    Simple

    The medical fraternity generally agrees that this new treatment is very effective.

    In context

    Members of the legal fraternity gathered at the annual conference to discuss the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a social club for male students at a college or university, often named with Greek letters.

    a social organization for male undergraduate students at a North American university, typically characterized by a Greek-letter name and shared residential living.

    Simple

    He decided to join a fraternity during his first year at university to make new friends.

    In context

    The university administration introduced stricter regulations regarding fraternity recruitment to ensure the safety and well-being of new students.

    Usage

    The female equivalent is a 'sorority'.

    greek housestudent society
  3. 03 C1 Advanced FormalLiterary

    a feeling of friendship and support between people.

    the state or quality of being brothers; a sense of mutual support and fellowship.

    Simple

    The goal of the festival was to promote peace and fraternity among different cultures.

    In context

    The revolutionary slogan emphasized liberty, equality, and fraternity as the foundational pillars of the new republic.

A century ago, the Pan-American road promised a new era of fraternity between the two continents.

Aeon· 7 Sept 2026

PIE word *bʰréh₂tēr From Middle English fraternite, borrowed from Old French fraternité, from Latin frāternitās, ultimately from frāter (“brother”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin frāternitās
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated