sisterhood

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe state, or kinship of being sisters.

   Synonyms: sistership

2. countableuncountableThe quality of being sisterly; sisterly companionship; especially, the sense that women have of being in solidarity with one another.
3. countableuncountableA religious society of women.

   In contrast, she said, women join sisterhoods and do volunteer work for Jewish fundraising organizations that are run and dominated by men.

   1975 April 21, Eleanor Blau, “Feminists Decry the Role Of Women in Jewish Life”, in The New York Times

In a sentence

In contrast, she said, women join sisterhoods and do volunteer work for Jewish fundraising organizations that are run and dominated by men.

1975 April 21, Eleanor Blau, “Feminists Decry the Role Of Women in Jewish Life”, in The New York Times

Where it comes from

1. Middle Englishsusterhede
2. Englishsisterhood

From Middle English susterhede; equivalent to sister + -hood (with a modification in the suffix).