fraternal

[fruh-tur-nl]

adjective

1. of or befitting a brother or brothers; brotherly.

2. of or being a society of men associated in brotherly union, as for mutual aid or benefit.

   a fraternal order; a fraternal association.

fraternal

/ frəˈtɜːnəl /

adjective

1. of or suitable to a brother; brotherly

2. of or relating to a fraternity

3. designating either or both of a pair of twins of the same or opposite sex that developed from two separate fertilized ova Compare identical

Other Word Forms

• fraternalism noun
• fraternally adverb
• interfraternal adjective
• interfraternally adverb
• nonfraternal adjective
• nonfraternally adverb
• prefraternal adjective
• prefraternally adverb
• quasi-fraternal adjective
• quasi-fraternally adverb
• unfraternal adjective
• unfraternally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraternal¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin frātern ( us ) fraternal (derivative of frāter brother ) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of fraternal¹

C15: from Latin frāternus , from frāter brother

Example Sentences

Warm words were spoken of fraternal friendship and support.

From BBC

The play, which radically recasts the fraternal relationship, developed far beyond its originating impetus.

From Los Angeles Times

But there’s a tentativeness to the portrayal, a watering down of the fraternal volatility that ultimately makes Booth so dangerous.

From Los Angeles Times

Johnson justified the action as a means to “promote and procure complete fraternal reconciliation among the whole people.”

From Los Angeles Times

Yoselin’s first job, at 16, was babysitting Charlotte and her two younger siblings, fraternal twins.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• congenial 
• friendly