fraternal

[ fruh-tur-nl ]

/ frəˈtɜr nl /

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See synonyms for fraternal on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or befitting a brother or brothers; brotherly.

of or being a society of men associated in brotherly union, as for mutual aid or benefit: a fraternal order; a fraternal association.

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Origin of fraternal

1375–1425; late Middle English <Latin frātern(us) fraternal (derivative of frāterbrother) + -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM fraternal

fra·ter·nal·ism, nounfra·ter·nal·ly, adverbin·ter·fra·ter·nal, adjectivein·ter·fra·ter·nal·ly, adverb

non·fra·ter·nal, adjectivenon·fra·ter·nal·ly, adverbpre·fra·ter·nal, adjectivepre·fra·ter·nal·ly, adverbqua·si-fra·ter·nal, adjectivequa·si-fra·ter·nal·ly, adverbun·fra·ter·nal, adjectiveun·fra·ter·nal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fraternal in a sentence

Logan organized members of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal group of Union veterans, to stand watch in the area.
The war secretary who barricaded himself in his office during an impeachment trial|Ronald G. Shafer|January 26, 2021|Washington Post
I love him and respect him, but as in many fraternal relationships, there are ancient issues, unresolved.
Gene Weingarten: This hot sauce is a killer|Gene Weingarten|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
Mr. Bryany's finger approached Edward Henry's on the plan, and the clouds from their cigarettes fraternally mingled.
The Regent|E. Arnold Bennett
However, I take the chance of finding at least one of you alive, and address you fraternally as a companion in distress.
Us and the Bottleman|Edith Ballinger Price

Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, although of late years he has not been active in lodge work.
Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 2 (of 2)|William Denison Lyman
Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World, while in religious faith both he and his wife are Lutherans.
Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 2 (of 2)|William Denison Lyman
Fraternally he belongs to the Woodmen of the World and has many friends within and without that organization.
Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 2 (of 2)|William Denison Lyman

British Dictionary definitions for fraternal

fraternal

/ (frəˈtɜːnəl) /

adjective

of or suitable to a brother; brotherly

of or relating to a fraternity

designating either or both of a pair of twins of the same or opposite sex that developed from two separate fertilized ovaCompare identical (def. 3)

Derived forms of fraternal

fraternalism, nounfraternally, adverb

Word Origin for fraternal

C15: from Latin frāternus, from frāter brother

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fraternal

Origin of fraternal

OTHER WORDS FROM fraternal

Words related to fraternal

How to use fraternal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fraternal

Derived forms of fraternal

Word Origin for fraternal