fraternity en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /fɹəˈtɜɹnəti/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- [-ɾi] (General-American)
- /fɹəˈtɜːnɪti/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
PIE word *bʰréh₂tēr From Middle English fraternite, borrowed from Old French fraternité, from Latin frāternitās, ultimately from frāter (“brother”).
Meanings
- (countable, uncountable) The quality of being brothers or brotherly; brotherhood.
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(countable, uncountable) A group of people associated for a common purpose.
The decision of Judge Stafford [to dismiss the case] represents an exhibition of raw power wielded by the well-organized fraternities of the medical profession against consumer groups working in the interest of women's health care.
1976 December 11, Linda Curtis, quotee, “Feminists Challenge 'Health Monopoly'”, in Gay Community News, volume 4, number 24, page 3:Having now so amply declared unto thee most of the principal things of this thrice-renowned and illustrious city, I will briefly by way of an epitome mention most of the other particulars thereof, and so finally shut up this narration: there are reported to be in Venice and the circumjacent islands two hundred churches in which are one hundred forth-three pairs of organs, fifty-four monasteries, twenty-six nunneries, fifty-six tribunals or places of judgment, seventeen hospitals, six companies or fraternities, whereof I have before spoken; one hundred and sixty-five marble statues of worthy personages, partly equestrial, partly pedestrial, which are erected in sundry places of the city, to the honour of those that either at home have prudently administered the commonweal, or abroad valiantly fought for the same.
1611, Thomas Coryate, Coryat's Crudities hastily gobbled up in Five Months Travels in France, Italy, &c:
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(Philippines, US, countable, uncountable) A social organization of male students at a college or university; usually identified by Greek letters.
Colin Schlank said he rushed a fraternity because he wanted to expand his social circle. […] “They’re called social fraternities for a reason,” he said, “because you’re trying to branch out, you’re trying to meet new people.”
2018 August 25, Dakin Andone, “They pledge. Get hazed. The cycle continues”, in CNN, archived from the original on 11 Jul 2024:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| fraternities | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
nonfraternity · fratority · fraternitylike · interfraternity
Relateds
fraternise · fraternize · fraternal · sorority · fraternity house · fratricide
Synonyms
Translations (58)
af broederskap (group of people associated for a common purpose) · bg братство (group of people associated for a common purpose) · bg братство (the quality of being brothers) · pt irmandade (group of people associated for a common purpose) · tr kardeşlik (group of people associated for a common purpose) · ru бра́тство (group of people associated for a common purpose) · it fratellanza (group of people associated for a common purpose) · gl irmandade (the quality of being brothers) · sv broderskap (the quality of being brothers) · de Burschenschaft (social organization of male students) · hy եղբայրություն (the quality of being brothers) · lo ພາລາດອນພາບ (the quality of being brothers) · sh bràtstvo (the quality of being brothers) · ro frăție (the quality of being brothers) · pl braterstwo (the quality of being brothers) · es hermandad (the quality of being brothers) · pl bractwo (group of people associated for a common purpose) · fr fraternité (group of people associated for a common purpose) · pl korporacja (social organization of male students) · eo frateco (the quality of being brothers) · fi veljeskunta (group of people associated for a common purpose) · ca fraternitat (the quality of being brothers) · el αδελφότητα (group of people associated for a common purpose) · tr cemiyet (group of people associated for a common purpose) · ar أَخَوِيَّة (social organization of male students) · eo frataro (social organization of male students) · de Vereinigung (group of people associated for a common purpose) · ty autaeaʻeraʻa (group of people associated for a common purpose) · th ภราดรภาพ (the quality of being brothers) · tr dernek (group of people associated for a common purpose) · mk братство (the quality of being brothers) · es confraternidad (group of people associated for a common purpose) · de Verbindung (social organization of male students) · pt irmandade (the quality of being brothers) · ml സാഹോദര്യം (the quality of being brothers) · pl fraternia (the quality of being brothers) · hy համայնք (group of people associated for a common purpose) · pt fraternidade (the quality of being brothers) · tr kardeşlik (the quality of being brothers) · th ภราดรภาพ (group of people associated for a common purpose) · sh bràtstvo (group of people associated for a common purpose) · tr erkek öğrenci birliği (social organization of male students) · ru бра́тство (the quality of being brothers) · es fraternidad (group of people associated for a common purpose) · ro fraternitate (the quality of being brothers) · ar أُخُوَّة (the quality of being brothers) · gl irmandade (group of people associated for a common purpose) · mk братство (group of people associated for a common purpose) · de Gemeinschaft (group of people associated for a common purpose) · fi veljeys (the quality of being brothers) · cs spolek (group of people associated for a common purpose) · eo frataro (group of people associated for a common purpose) · tr birlik (group of people associated for a common purpose) · lo ພາລາດອນພາບ (group of people associated for a common purpose) · ro fraternitate (group of people associated for a common purpose) · de Bruderschaft (the quality of being brothers) · ca germanor (the quality of being brothers) · bg студентско сдружение (social organization of male students)