confraternity

[ kon-fruh-tur-ni-tee ]
/ ˌkɒn frəˈtɜr nɪ ti /

noun, plural con·fra·ter·ni·ties.

a lay brotherhood devoted to some purpose, especially to religious or charitable service.
a society or organization, especially of men, united for some purpose or in some profession.

Origin of confraternity

1425–75; late Middle English confraternite < Medieval Latin confrāternitās, derivative of confrāter (see confrere), on the model of Latin frāternitās fraternity

OTHER WORDS FROM confraternity

con·fra·ter·nal, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for confraternity

British Dictionary definitions for confraternity

confraternity
/ (ˌkɒnfrəˈtɜːnɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

a group of men united for some particular purpose, esp Christian laymen organized for religious or charitable service; brotherhood

Derived forms of confraternity

confraternal, adjective

Word Origin for confraternity

C15: from Medieval Latin confrāternitās; see confrère, fraternity