what is a comrade

A comrade is a term used to refer to a friend, intimate associate, or companion. It can also refer to a fellow member of a fraternal group, political party, or military unit. The term derives from the Spanish and Portuguese term camarada, which means "chamber mate". The use of the term comrade is associated with communism, Marxism-Leninism, and the former Soviet Union in the United States. In the United Kingdom, political use of the term comrade is strongly associated with both communism and, historically, fascism. However, it is still used as an informal form of address among some Labour Party members and in a more serious manner by many smaller parties of the left.