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Fraternity
A fraternity (from Latin frater: “brother”; whence, “brotherhood”) or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity in the Western concept developed in the Christian context, notably with the religious orders in the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. The concept was eventually further extended with medieval confraternities and guilds. In the early modern era, these were followed by fraternal orders such as freemasons and odd fellows, along with gentlemen’s clubs, student fraternities, and fraternal service organizations. Members are occasionally referred to as a brother or – usually in religious context – Frater or Friar.Today, connotations of fraternities vary according to context including companionships and brotherhoods dedicated to the religious, intellectual, academic, physical, or social pursuits of its members. Additionally, in modern times, it sometimes connotes a secret society especially regarding freemasonry, odd fellows, various academic, and student societies.Although membership in fraternities was and mostly still is limited to men, ever since the development of orders of Catholic sisters and nuns in the Middle Ages and henceforth, this is not always the case. There are mixed male and female fraternities and fraternal orders, as well as wholly female religious orders and societies, some of which are known as sororities in North America. Notable modern fraternities or fraternal orders that with time have evolved to more or less permit female members, include some grand lodges operating among freemasons and odd fellows.
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Brotherhood (noun)
The state of being brothers or a brother.
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Brotherhood (noun)
An association for any purpose, such as a society of monks; a fraternity.
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Brotherhood (noun)
The whole body of persons engaged in the same business, especially those of the same profession
“the legal brotherhood”
“the medical brotherhood”
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Brotherhood (noun)
People, or (poetically) things, of the same kind.
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Fraternity (noun)
The quality of being brothers or brotherly; brotherhood.
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Fraternity (noun)
A group of people associated for a common purpose.
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Fraternity (noun)
A social organization of male students at a college or university; usually identified by Greek letters.
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Brotherhood (noun)
the relationship between brothers
“the bonds of brotherhood”
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Brotherhood (noun)
the feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of people or all people
“a gesture of solidarity and brotherhood”
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Brotherhood (noun)
an association or community of people linked by a common interest, religion, or trade
“a religious brotherhood”
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Brotherhood (noun)
a trade union
“the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America”