freemasonry

noun

free·​ma·​son·​ry ˈfrē-ˈmā-sᵊn-rē How to pronounce freemasonry (audio)
1
capitalized : the principles, institutions, or practices of Freemasons

called also Masonry

2
: natural fellowship based on some common experience

Examples of freemasonry 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.
Charles Warren went looking for the secrets of freemasonry and instead found the city’s ancient water network, a more successful enquiry than his subsequent pursuit of Jack the Ripper. Dominic Green, WSJ, 17 Dec. 2021 The document includes information on British Jewish organizations, strategic locations, maps, parliament, private schools, freemasonry and photos of persons of interest, particularly foreign nationals who had fled the Nazis. Fox News, 14 Sep. 2019 La Grange was the site of the Kentucky Masonic College, a center for freemasonry and home to Rob Morris who founded the Order of the Eastern Star. The Courier-Journal, 21 June 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of freemasonry was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near freemasonry

Cite this Entry

“Freemasonry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freemasonry. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on freemasonry

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!