What does fraternity mean?
Fraternity refers to a bond of brotherhood among people, whether as a formal organization or as an abstract spirit of solidarity. In one common sense it names a body of people united by shared work or interest — speakers often refer to 'the legal fraternity' or 'the medical fraternity' to describe their profession as a collective. In another, distinctly American sense, a fraternity is a male students' social society at a college or university, typically bearing a Greek-letter name and paired institutionally with the female counterpart, the sorority. More broadly, fraternity denotes fellow-feeling between people: it appears in the French revolutionary motto 'liberty, equality, fraternity,' where it stands for mutual regard among citizens. Derived from the Latin word for brother (frater), the term carries connotations of loyalty, camaraderie, and shared identity, though in campus contexts it can also suggest exclusivity. It remains useful wherever writers need to evoke organized fellowship or human solidarity.
A group of people associated for a common purpose, such as a profession, trade, or belief; a brotherhood.
"The engineering fraternity gathered annually for its flagship conference."
Often used with the definite article to refer collectively to members of a profession.
A male students' social organization at a college or university, especially in the United States.
"She visited her brother at his fraternity house during parents' weekend."
Strongly associated with American campus culture; the female equivalent is a sorority.
The quality or condition of brotherhood; solidarity and mutual support among people.
"The revolutionaries championed liberty, equality, and fraternity."
Standard plural form; used when referring to multiple organizations or groups.
"Several fraternities on campus collaborated to host the charity fundraiser."
"Liberty, equality, fraternity" — this word literally helped fuel the French Revolution.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fraternity
Fraternity derives from the Latin 'fraternitas', meaning brotherhood, itself rooted in 'frater', meaning brother. The word entered English via Old French 'fraternité' around the fourteenth century, originally denoting religious brotherhoods and confraternities of laypeople devoted to common devotional works. Over time its meaning broadened to encompass any organized fellowship, and by the nineteenth century it had come to name the collegiate societies that emerged on American campuses. Cognates include 'fraternal' and 'fraternize', both drawn from the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How fraternity is actually used
In professional contexts ('the banking fraternity'), the word is neutral but can sound slightly old-fashioned or self-congratulatory when used by members of the profession itself. The American college-fraternity sense is strongly associated with US campus culture, including its rituals, houses, and Greek-letter names, and sometimes carries connotations of exclusivity. The abstract sense of universal brotherhood carries a warm, idealistic tone.
Easily confused with fraternity
A sorority is a female students' society at a college, whereas a fraternity traditionally refers to the equivalent male society.