source: By Romer Jed Medina from Newark, NJ, United States - 13-01-30 Fraternity and Sorority Orientation (Unedited) (120), CC BY-SA 2.0

noun (plural fraternities)

1. treated as singular or plural a group of people sharing a common profession or interests: 共通の職業や利益を共有する人々の集団

〖the ～; 集合的に; 単複両扱い〗 (全)同業者, (ある職業の)全就労者; (宗教上の)信徒団体; 同業組合(｟男女共用｠ common-interest group)

e.g. members of the hunting fraternity.: 狩猟組合の構成員

North American a male students' society in a university or college. 総合大学や単科大学の男性学生の社交クラブ

｟米｠ 友愛会〘男子大学生の親睦クラブ; → sorority 〙

a religious or Masonic society or guild.: 宗教の、フリーメーソンの社交クラブや団体

2. the state or feeling of friendship and mutual support within a group: 友情の状態、感情と集団内の相互の支援

｟かたく｠ 兄弟の関係; (ある集団の)友情, 連帯感(｟男女共用｠ companionship, friendship)

e.g. the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity.: 自由、平等、連帯の理想

Middle English: from Old French fraternite, from Latin fraternitas, from fraternus (see fraternal).