bid
bid
/bɪd/
A formal invitation extended to a prospective candidate to join a fraternity or sorority.
Specifically refers to the official written membership offer issued at the conclusion of recruitment or rush week.
The story behind the word. Originating from Old English 'bēodan' (to offer or proclaim), the word shifted through middle English auction contexts before becoming campus terminology for extending formal offers of membership.
Word relationships
- invitation: Invitation is a broad term for any request to attend or join, while bid refers specifically to formal offers of membership in Greek recruitment.
- rejection: Rejection indicates a refusal of entry or declining of an offer.
Commonly confused with
- pledge: A bid is the formal paper invitation offered by the group; a pledge is the person who accepts that invitation.
Collocations
- extend a bid
- accept a bid
- Bid Day
- receive a bid
Example sentences
- "On Bid Day, hundreds of excited students gathered on the lawn to open their official membership envelopes." Rush week climax
- "She was thrilled to accept a bid from her top-choice sorority after a memorable week of interviews." Sorority recruitment
Memory hook
A BID is an offer to BID you welcome into the house. Formal offer of membership
When not to use
Do not use to mean an informal verbal suggestion to hang out with members.
Fun facts
- Bid Day is celebrated across North American campuses as one of the loudest days of the academic year, featuring themed costumes, signs, and cheering.
Related words
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