Definition

Noun: 1. A formal association or brotherhood, especially with a charitable, religious, or fraternal purpose: A sodality is an organized group of people united by a common bond, often for mutual support or to pursue shared spiritual or social goals. 2. A fellowship or community characterized by companionship and shared interests: It can refer more broadly to a feeling of close friendship and solidarity within a group.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The parish sodality organized regular visits to the elderly and sick in the community.
  • There was a strong sense of sodality among the veterans who had served together.
  • Medieval guilds often functioned as both trade associations and social sodalities.

Advanced Usage

• "Spiritual sodality": A specifically religious confraternity or pious association, common in the Catholic tradition.
  • She joined a spiritual sodality dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
• The term often implies a more formal or structured bond than simple friendship, suggesting shared vows, rules, or regular meetings.

Variants and Related Words

• Sodalist (n): A member of a sodality.
  • The sodalists met every Thursday for prayer and planning.

Synonyms

• Brotherhood: A close-knit group of men (or sometimes people in general) sharing a common interest or purpose.
• Fraternity: A group of people sharing a common profession or interests, or a male social organization.
• Confaternity: A brotherhood, especially a religious guild or brotherhood.
• Fellowship: A group of people sharing common interests, or the friendly feeling of companionship.

Antonyms

• Estrangement: The state of being alienated or separated.
• Disunity: Lack of unity or agreement within a group.

Noun

1. people engaged in a particular occupation
   • the medical fraternity