adj · noun · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/fɹəˈtɝnəl/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)nəl
CMU ARPABET:F R AH0 T ER1 N AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or pertaining to a brother or brothers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Of or pertaining to a fraternity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Platonic or friendly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Of twins or embryos, produced from two different eggs and sperm, and genetically distinct.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A society formed to provide mutual aid, such as insurance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A fraternal twin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective
Meaning 7
like or characteristic of or befitting a brother
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
brotherly feelings
close fraternal ties
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: brotherly, brotherlike
Antonyms: none provided
8
adjective
Meaning 8
(of twins) derived from two separate fertilized ova
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
fraternal twins are biovular
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: biovular
Antonyms: identical
9
adjective
Meaning 9
of or relating to a fraternity or society of usually men
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a fraternal order
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
PIE word *bhréh2tēr Borrowed from Middle French fraternel, from Medieval Latin frāternālis (“fraternal”), from Latin frāternus (“of or pertaining to a brother, fraternal”), from frāter (“brother”).
Across languages
Translations
55 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
أَخَوِيّ
(ʔaḵawiyy)
— of or pertaining brothers
Armenian:
եղբայրական
(eġbayrakan)
— of or pertaining brothers
Belarusian:
братэ́рскі
(bratérski)
— of or pertaining brothers
Belarusian:
бра́цкі
(brácki)
— of or pertaining brothers
Bulgarian:
бра́тски
(brátski)
— of or pertaining brothers
Catalan:
fratern
— of or pertaining brothers
Czech:
bratrský
— of or pertaining brothers
Danish:
broderlig
— of or pertaining brothers
Dutch:
broederlijk
— of or pertaining brothers
Finnish:
veljellinen
— of or pertaining brothers
Finnish:
veljes-
— of or pertaining brothers
French:
fraternel
— of or pertaining brothers
Galician:
fraterno
— of or pertaining brothers
Galician:
fraternal
— of or pertaining brothers
German:
brüderlich
— of or pertaining brothers
Greek:
αδελφικός
(adelfikós)
— of or pertaining brothers
Hindi:
भ्रात्रीय
(bhrātrīya)
— of or pertaining brothers
Ido:
fratala
— of or pertaining brothers
Ido:
fratatra
— of or pertaining brothers
Irish:
bráthartha
— of or pertaining brothers
Irish:
bráithriúil
— of or pertaining brothers
Irish:
deartháiriúil
— of or pertaining brothers
Italian:
fraterno
— of or pertaining brothers
Italian:
fraternale
— of or pertaining brothers
Macedonian:
братски
(bratski)
— of or pertaining brothers
Manx:
braaroil
— of or pertaining brothers
Norwegian Bokmål:
broderlig
— of or pertaining brothers
Polish:
braterski
— of or pertaining brothers
Portuguese:
fraterno
— of or pertaining brothers
Portuguese:
fraternal
— of or pertaining brothers
Romanian:
de frate
— of or pertaining brothers
Romanian:
fratern
— of or pertaining brothers
Romanian:
frățesc
— of or pertaining brothers
Russian:
бра́тский
(brátskij)
— of or pertaining brothers
Sanskrit:
भ्रात्रीय
(bhrātrīya)
— of or pertaining brothers
Scottish Gaelic:
comh-bhràthaireil
— of or pertaining brothers
Scottish Gaelic:
bràithreil
— of or pertaining brothers
Serbo-Croatian:
бра̀тскӣ
— of or pertaining brothers
Serbo-Croatian:
bràtskī
— of or pertaining brothers
Slovak:
bratský
— of or pertaining brothers
Slovene:
bratski
— of or pertaining brothers
Spanish:
fraternal
— of or pertaining brothers
Spanish:
fraterno
— of or pertaining brothers
Swedish:
broderlig
— of or pertaining brothers
Ukrainian:
брате́рський
(bratérsʹkyj)
— of or pertaining brothers
Ukrainian:
бра́тський
(brátsʹkyj)
— of or pertaining brothers
Finnish:
veljeskunta-
— of or pertaining to a fraternity
Polish:
braterski
— of or pertaining to a fraternity
Finnish:
toverillinen
— platonic or friendly
Polish:
przyjacielski
— platonic or friendly
Finnish:
erimunainen
— genetics: of twins or embryos, produced from two different eggs and sperm, and genetically distinct
Finnish:
epäidenttinen
— genetics: of twins or embryos, produced from two different eggs and sperm, and genetically distinct
Polish:
dwujajowy
— genetics: of twins or embryos, produced from two different eggs and sperm, and genetically distinct
Spanish:
bivitelino
— genetics: of twins or embryos, produced from two different eggs and sperm, and genetically distinct
French:
dizygote
— genetics: of twins or embryos, produced from two different eggs and sperm, and genetically distinct