Glossary of Greek Terms

active	A fully initiated member of a fraternity or sorority
alumni	An initiated member of a fraternity or sorority no longer enrolled as an undergraduate student
bid	An invitation to membership from a Greek lettered organization to a potential new member
big sister/brother	An initiated member who sponsors, advises, and guides a new member through his/her orientation and membership
brother	An initiated member of a fraternity
chapter	The local collegiate membership of a national fraternity or sorority
dry rush	The practice of not serving alcoholic beverages at any rush, recruitment or intake functions
Greek	A member of a fraternity or sorority
initiation	The traditional ritual which brings the New Member into full membership in the fraternity or sorority
intake	Process for which prospective members are educated about a chapter′s history, organization, and community service for National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations
legacy	A potential new member whose parents or siblings are a member of fraternity/sorority that they are pursuing
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)	The coordinating and servicing body for historically African-American fraternities and sororities
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)	The coordinating body of all college Panhellenic Associations in the United States and Canada
new member	An individual who has accepted a bid and is engaged in preparing for initiation
North-American Interfratenrity Conference (NIC)	The coordinating body of all college Interfraternity Councils in the United States and Canada
rush/recruitment	The period of time for membership recruitment by IFC and PHC organizations. Rush is also the name of the first step of Intake for some NPHC sororities.
rushee/potential new	A person interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority
sister	An initiated member of a sorority

definitions provided by Minnesota State University Moorhead and The State University of New York at Buffalo