Archconfraternity is a term that refers to a religious association or fraternity, typically Catholic in nature, that has been given special status within the Church hierarchy. Although there are few synonyms for the term, it can be referred to more simply as a "confraternity" or "brotherhood". Other related words include "sodality", "guild", "association", and "order". These terms all refer to a group of individuals who come together for a common goal or purpose. While archconfraternities may be unique in their status within the Church, these other terms can provide a general understanding of the concept and help to better describe its role in religious communities.