fraternity

fra-ter-ni-ty · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (North American) A social organization for male students at a college or university, typically with its own house and identified by Greek letters.

  2. 2.

    A group of people sharing a common profession, interest, or background.

  3. 3.

    The state or feeling of friendship and mutual support within a group.

Forms

plural: fraternities

Phrases & expressions

  • fraternity house — the building where fraternity members live
  • Greek fraternity — a fraternity named with Greek letters
  • fraternity brother — a fellow member of a fraternity
  • liberty, equality, fraternity — the motto of the French Republic

Related words

Etymology

From Old French fraternite, from Latin fraternitas ("brotherhood"), from fraternus ("brotherly"), from frater ("brother"). Related to Greek phrater ("member of a clan").