Definition of fraternize
fraternized
;fraternizing
intransitive verb
1 : to associate or mingle as brothers or on fraternal terms fraternized with the other guests at the party
2a : to associate on close terms with members of a hostile group especially when contrary to military orders were ordered not to fraternize with the enemyb : to be friendly or amiable
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Examples of fraternize in a Sentence
It is usually unwise to fraternize with your employees.
don't fraternize just with people of the same race, religion, or social background
Recent Examples of fraternize from the Web
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Male and female interns were forbidden from fraternizing and got in trouble for going to Buffalo Wild Wings together.
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Like going in spikes up at second base, opponents not fraternizing before games and starting pitchers who threw 200 innings every year.
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Tam is concerned a group her daughter had been fraternizing with may be involved.
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Before Ofglen/Ofsteven can lay out said organization’s mission statement through PowerPoint, Offred’s new walking partner whisks her away and reprimands her for fraternizing with the enemy.
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Hollywood A-listers followed the bulls in Spain and fraternized with matadors like Dominguín, an international celebrity in his own right.
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At the mountain camp, Maple fraternized with German prisoners of war and hatched an escape plan.
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The six-hour trip down the Danube is breathtaking, and the ride should provide a chance to fraternize.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fraternize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Both fraternize and fraternal (meaning "of, relating to, or involving brothers") come to us, by way of Medieval Latin, from Latin frater, meaning "brother." Other frater descendants in English include friar, fraternity, and confraternity ("a society devoted especially to a religious or charitable cause"). Even brother itself shares a relationship with frater. These days, although fraternize can still refer to a brotherly association or simple friendliness, it often occurs in contexts, such as fraternizing with the enemy, implying friendliness toward someone who would be better avoided.
First Known Use of fraternize
1611
FRATERNIZE Defined for English Language Learners
fraternize
playDefinition of fraternize for English Language Learners
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: to be friendly with someone : to spend time with someone in a friendly way especially when it is considered wrong or improper to do so
Learn More about fraternize
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See words that rhyme with fraternize Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fraternize Spanish Central: Translation of fraternize Nglish: Translation of fraternize for Spanish speakers
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