Cryptic crossword clue
With flyer penned, doctor ratifies orders 12

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word FRATERNITIES

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
F
R
A
T
E
R
N
I
T
I
E
S

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "orders" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case orders = fraternities.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does FRATERNITIES mean?

FRATERNITIES noun
  1. The quality of being brothers or brotherly; brotherhood.
  2. A group of people associated for a common purpose.
  3. A social organization of male students at a college or university; usually identified by Greek letters.

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