confraternity

American  

[kon-fruh-tur-ni-tee] / ˌkɒn frəˈtɜr nɪ ti /

noun

plural

confraternities

1. a lay brotherhood devoted to some purpose, especially to religious or charitable service.

2. a society or organization, especially of men, united for some purpose or in some profession.

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confraternity British  

/ ˌkɒnfrəˈtɜːnɪtɪ /

noun

1. a group of men united for some particular purpose, esp Christian laymen organized for religious or charitable service; brotherhood

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Other Word Forms

• confraternal adjective

Etymology

Origin of confraternity

1425–75; late Middle English confraternite < Medieval Latin confrāternitās, derivative of confrāter ( confrere ), on the model of Latin frāternitās fraternity

Example Sentences

And the King will take an honorary, spiritual title associated with the abbey, becoming what's called a "royal confrater", as part of the abbey's confraternity.

From BBC

The subject was popular among artists during the Renaissance, and Carpaccio told the overwrought story in a sequence of nine large canvases designed for a confraternity building known as the Scuola di Sant Orsola.

From Washington Post

In the 16th century, one confraternity built a small church inside the arena, Santa Maria della Pieta, which still exists.

From New York Times

The grandmaster of the Confraternity of Valdobbiadene — a hallowed society of Prosecco makers from the wine’s traditional home on the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano hills — Mr. Bortolomiol, 55, wore a heavy white fustian cloak, black velvet cap and a gold medallion embossed with the brotherhood’s coat of arms.

From New York Times

A friend of his was robbed by a confraternity member resulting in a feud.

From BBC