fraternal

adjective

fra·​ter·​nal frə-ˈtər-nᵊl 

1

a

: of, relating to, or involving brothers

fraternal love

b

: of, relating to, or being a fraternity or society

a fraternal order

a fraternal chapter house

2

: derived from two ova : dizygotic

fraternal twins

3

: friendly, brotherly

There was a fraternal feeling among the troops.

fraternalism

frə-ˈtər-nə-ˌliz-əm 

noun

fraternally

frə-ˈtər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• familial
• brotherly

Examples of fraternal in a Sentence

He belonged to a fraternal organization.

There was a fraternal feeling among the troops.

Recent Examples on the Web

Playing a likable but selfish loser, Zahn has never been better; and the boyish, charming Walker freaks out like nobody’s business; the film’s greatest asset is the fraternal chemistry between these two. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025

Thrivent’s origins as a Christian fraternal benefit society still guide its mission more than a century later. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 June 2025

Some of the graduating sets of twins — all fraternal, not identical — have known each other since kindergarten, after their parents met through a local twins club. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025

In 1898, the Elks Lodge #26 opted to do something highly unusual for fraternal organizations at the time. —Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin fraternalis, from Latin fraternus, from frater brother — more at brother

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing fraternal

• fraternal twin

Rhymes for fraternal

• diurnal
• eternal
• external
• infernal
• internal
• maternal
• nocturnal
• paternal
• pimpernel
• colonel
• journal
• kernel

Kids Definition

fraternal

adjective

fra·​ter·​nal frə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

a

: of or relating to brothers

b

: of, relating to, or being a fraternity

2

: kindly entry 1 sense 2, friendly

fraternally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Medical Definition

fraternal

adjective

fra·​ter·​nal frə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

: derived from two ova : dizygotic

fraternal twins