Fellowship vs. Fraternity — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 9, 2024
Fellowship is a bond or group of people sharing similar interests or goals, often implying companionship. Fraternity refers to a brotherhood or social organization, traditionally among male members sharing common interests, values, or academic pursuits.
Difference Between Fellowship and Fraternity
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fellowship indicates a sense of shared purpose, typically among people working or studying together, like research fellows. Fraternity, however, often denotes a formal group or organization bonded by brotherhood, especially in academic or professional settings.
Fellowship emphasizes camaraderie and unity around a shared cause, which can be educational, spiritual, or professional. Fraternity, on the other hand, often emphasizes loyalty and lifelong bonds among members through social or charitable activities.
Fellowships are commonly pursued through academic programs, offering opportunities for research, study, or work in a specific field. Fraternities are more closely associated with student organizations, particularly in college, promoting networking and mutual support.
Fellowship is a broader concept that can also refer to feelings of friendship and solidarity. Fraternity, however, typically refers to a specific organizational structure with rules and traditions.
Fellowship has a more inclusive and professional connotation, while fraternity historically referred to male-only groups but can also include gender-neutral organizations or sister sororities.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A bond or group with shared interests
Brotherhood organization, traditionally male
Purpose
Companionship, unity
Loyalty, social, and academic pursuits
Structure
Informal or formal groups
Formal group with rules and traditions
Context
Academic, spiritual, professional
Academic or professional, often college-based
Example
"The fellowship fostered unity among researchers."
"He joined a fraternity to build his network."
Compare with Definitions
Fellowship
A professional or academic program for research or training.
She earned a research fellowship to study climate change.
Fraternity
A brotherhood or group united for mutual support.
He found lifelong friendships through his fraternity.
Fellowship
Feelings of friendship and unity.
The group's fellowship was evident in their shared enthusiasm.
Fraternity
An association with shared professional or academic interests.
They created a fraternity of professionals to foster networking.
Fellowship
Financial aid for educational or academic purposes.
He was granted a fellowship to fund his graduate studies.
Fraternity
A global network with chapters or branches.
The fraternity has active chapters across the country.
Fellowship
A mutual interest or pursuit among people.
The organization promotes fellowship among local artists.
Fraternity
A social organization, traditionally among male students.
The fraternity organized events to raise money for charity.
Fellowship
A group or community with shared goals and companionship.
The church fellowship offered support to new members.
Fraternity
A community of people with strong loyalty and bonds.
They worked hard to maintain the fraternity's traditions.
Fellowship
The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms
A voracious reader who found fellowship in a book club.
Fraternity
A fraternity (from Latin frater: "brother"; whence, "brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity in the Western concept developed in the Christian context, notably with the religious orders in the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages.
Fellowship
Friendship; comradeship
A strong fellowship developed among them.
Fraternity
A body of people associated for a common purpose or interest, such as a guild.
Fellowship
A close association of friends or equals sharing similar interests
A fellowship of photographers.
Fraternity
A group of people joined by similar backgrounds, occupations, interests, or tastes
The fraternity of bird watchers.
Fellowship
The financial grant made to a fellow in a college or university.
Fraternity
A social organization at a college or university, traditionally consisting of male students and designated by Greek letters.
Fellowship
The status or position of one who is awarded such a grant.
Fraternity
Roman Catholic Church A sodality.
Fellowship
A company of people that share the same interest or aim.
Fraternity
The quality or condition of being brothers; brotherliness.
Fellowship
(dated) Company, companions; a group of people or things following another.
Fraternity
The quality of being brothers or brotherly; brotherhood.
Fellowship
A feeling of friendship, relatedness or connection between people.
Fraternity
A group of people associated for a common purpose.
Fellowship
(education) A merit-based scholarship.
Fraternity
(US) A social organization of male students at a college or university; usually identified by Greek letters.
Fellowship
(education) A temporary position at an academic institution with limited teaching duties and ample time for research.
Fraternity
The state or quality of being fraternal or brotherly; brotherhood.
Fellowship
(medicine) A period of supervised, sub-specialty medical training in the United States and Canada that a physician may undertake after completing a specialty training program or residency.
Fraternity
A body of men associated for their common interest, business, or pleasure; a company; a brotherhood; a society; in the Roman Catholic Church, an association for special religious purposes, for relieving the sick and destitute, etc.
Fellowship
The proportional division of profit and loss among partners.
Fraternity
Men of the same class, profession, occupation, character, or tastes.
With what terms of respect knaves and sots will speak of their own fraternity!
Fellowship
(transitive) To admit to fellowship, enter into fellowship with; to make feel welcome by showing friendship or building a cordial relationship. Now only in religious use.
The Bishop's family fellowshipped the new converts.
The Society of Religious Snobs refused to fellowship the poor family.
Fraternity
A social club for male college undergraduates. They often have secret initiation rites, and are named by the use of two or three Greek letters. The corresponding association for women students is called a sorority.
Fellowship
To join in fellowship; to associate with.
The megachurch he attends is too big for making personal connections, so he also fellowships weekly in one of the church's small groups.
After she got married, she stopped fellowshipping with the singles in our church.
Fraternity
A social club for male undergraduates
Fellowship
The state or relation of being or associate.
Fraternity
People engaged in a particular occupation;
The medical fraternity
Fellowship
Companionship of persons on equal and friendly terms; frequent and familiar intercourse.
In a great town, friends are scattered, so that there is not that fellowship which is in less neighborhods.
Men are made for society and mutual fellowship.
Fellowship
A state of being together; companionship; partnership; association; hence, confederation; joint interest.
The great contention of the sea and skiesParted our fellowship.
Fellowship in pain divides not smart
Fellowship in woe doth woe assuage
The goodliest fellowship of famous knights,Whereof this world holds record.
Fellowship
Those associated with one, as in a family, or a society; a company.
The sorrow of Noah with his fellowship.
With that a joyous fellowship issuedOf minstrels.
Fellowship
A foundation for the maintenance, on certain conditions, of a scholar called a fellow, who usually resides at the university.
Fellowship
The rule for dividing profit and loss among partners; - called also partnership, company, and distributive proportion.
There's neither honesty, manhood, nor good fellowship in thee.
Fellowship
To acknowledge as of good standing, or in communion according to standards of faith and practice; to admit to Christian fellowship.
Fellowship
An association of people who share common beliefs or activities;
The message was addressed not just to employees but to every member of the company family
The church welcomed new members into its fellowship
Fellowship
The state of being with someone;
He missed their company
He enjoyed the society of his friends
Fellowship
Money granted (by a university or foundation or other agency) for advanced study or research
Common Curiosities
Can fellowships provide financial support?
Yes, academic fellowships often come with stipends or grants.
Are fellowships always academic?
Not always; fellowships can also involve spiritual or professional communities.
Do fraternities have initiation rituals?
Many fraternities have initiation processes to bond members and preserve traditions.
Is fellowship only used in religious contexts?
No, fellowship is broadly used for any group sharing interests or goals.
Can fellowships be temporary?
Yes, academic fellowships typically last a set period for specific projects or research.
Are fellowships competitive?
Academic fellowships are often competitive, requiring a rigorous application process.
Do fraternities include women?
Some fraternities are co-ed, and female equivalents are called sororities.
Do fraternities have specific values or missions?
Yes, each fraternity typically adheres to a set of core values and goals.
Do fraternities exist outside of colleges?
Yes, some professional or service fraternities cater to post-graduate members.
Are fraternities involved in community service?
Yes, many fraternities emphasize philanthropy and community engagement.
Do fraternities have membership fees?
Yes, most fraternities require membership dues for funding events and operations.
Are fraternities involved in sports or athletics?
Some fraternities organize sports leagues or competitions among members.
Can fellowships be pursued after graduation?
Yes, post-graduate fellowships are available in research, medicine, and more.
Can fellowships offer mentorship opportunities?
Absolutely, many fellowships pair candidates with experienced mentors.
Is fellowship synonymous with friendship?
Not exactly; fellowship implies a shared purpose or companionship beyond mere friendship.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
