noun

fraternization

frat-er-nuh-ZAY-shn/ˌfrætərnəˈzeɪʃn/

Friendly social contact, especially with people one is forbidden to associate with.

The guard's fraternization with the inmate includes a friendly chess game over tea.

A uniformed prison guard and an inmate sit together inside an open barred cell, smiling companionably over a chess game and two mugs of tea.

Etymology

fraternLatinbrotherly

+izEnglishact as

+ationEnglishact or process

Originally an act of uniting as brothers, fraternization came to mean friendly social contact. Military use gave it the implication of crossing boundaries that discipline required people to respect.

In context

Law Office of Peter Kageleiry Jr.1:31

there are a few exceptions to fraternization such as if a couple is married prior to attaining their ranks and positions of differing status

What is Fraternization in the Military

More examples

The company bans fraternization between supervisors and their direct reports.
Guards face discipline for fraternization with prisoners.
The annual picnic encourages fraternization among neighbors.

Forms

fraternize verb — To associate with others on friendly terms.

Similar words

socializing: Friendly interaction without necessarily suggesting forbidden or inappropriate contact.
mingling: Mixing casually with others, often at a social gathering.