frat

frat · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (informal, chiefly North American) A fraternity; a social organization for male college students.

  2. 2.

    Used attributively to describe things associated with fraternities or their stereotypical culture.

Forms

plural: frats

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    frat boy — a male member of a fraternity, sometimes used pejoratively
  • •
    frat house — the residence where fraternity members live
  • •
    frat party — a social gathering hosted by a fraternity

Related words

Antonyms: sorority
See also: brotherhood, fraternity, sorority
Synonyms: brotherhood, fraternity

Etymology

Shortened form of fraternity, from Latin fraternitas ("brotherhood"), from frater ("brother"). The abbreviation emerged in American college slang in the early 20th century.