fraternal
Fraternal (adj) means relating to brothers, or having a warm, brotherly closeness. Example: “The two colleagues developed a fraternal bond over the years.”
How to use fraternal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBrotherly, or (for twins) genetically distinct rather than identical.
Fraternal twins are not identical — they share about as much DNA as regular siblings, just born at the same time.
Word forms
more fraternal comparative, fraternals plural, most fraternal superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The two colleagues developed a _____ bond over the years.
Etymology
From Latin fraternus, "of a brother," from frater, "brother."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for fraternal
See all rhymes for fraternal →Frequently asked questions
What does “fraternal” mean?
The word “fraternal” means relating to brothers, or having a warm, brotherly closeness. In plain terms, brotherly, or (for twins) genetically distinct rather than identical.
How do you pronounce “fraternal”?
“Fraternal” is pronounced fruh-TNUHL (/fɹəˈtɝnəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “fraternal” in a sentence?
Here is “fraternal” used in a sentence: “The two colleagues developed a fraternal bond over the years.”
What is another word for “fraternal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fraternal” include brotherly.
What part of speech is “fraternal”?
“Fraternal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “fraternal” come from?
The word “fraternal” comes from Latin. From Latin fraternus, "of a brother," from frater, "brother.".
Is “fraternal” a common word?
“Fraternal” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fraternal” have?
“Fraternal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to brothers, or having a warm, brotherly closeness.