confraternity

[ kon-fruh-tur-ni-tee ]

noun

, plural con·fra·ter·ni·ties.

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

confraternity

/ ˌkɒnfrəˈtɜːnɪtɪ /

noun

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

Derived Forms

• ˌconfraˈternal, adjective

Other Words From

• confra·ternal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confraternity¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of confraternity¹

C15: from Medieval Latin confrāternitās; see confrère , fraternity

Example Sentences

The subject was popular among artists during the Renaissance, and Carpaccio told the overwrought story in a sequence of nine large canvases designed for a confraternity building known as the Scuola di Sant Orsola.

From Washington Post

In the 16th century, one confraternity built a small church inside the arena, Santa Maria della Pieta, which still exists.

From New York Times

Prosecco’s rock bottom prices were also blasphemous to the spirit of the confraternity’s founders, including his uncle and Ms. Bortolomiol’s father.

From New York Times

Each new member then needed to chug half a bottle of the winner of the confraternity’s annual blind taste test.

From New York Times

The grandmaster of the Confraternity of Valdobbiadene — a hallowed society of Prosecco makers from the wine’s traditional home on the Valdobbiadene and Conegliano hills — Mr. Bortolomiol, 55, wore a heavy white fustian cloak, black velvet cap and a gold medallion embossed with the brotherhood’s coat of arms.

From New York Times