US, informal
: fraternity sense 1c
Today's progressive notions of responsible partying and political correctness have hit hard at all eighteen of Dartmouth's frats but especially so at Alpha Delta, which has always had the reputation of being the baddest house on campus.—Eric Konigsberg
—often used before another noun
frat houses/brothers
(often disparaging) a frat boy [=a member of a fraternity]

Examples of frat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The defensive coordinator suddenly is the subject of frat banners calling for his firing. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 Surveillance video in the area picked up someone matching the description running from the frat house, UChicago said. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 The Cornell case has garnered nationwide attention over Jane Doe’s disturbing allegations, which include that she was coerced with alcohol and drugs before being raped multiple times at the Chi Phi frat house. — Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2026 The Cornell 7 lawsuit refers to the legal document filed by an unnamed Cornell University student who accused seven men of raping and drugging her at a frat house party in October 2024 — and faced no legal consequences. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frat

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frat was circa 1895

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Cite this Entry

“Frat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frat. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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