tribal

1 of 2

adjective

trib·​al ˈtrī-bəl How to pronounce tribal (audio)
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe
tribal customs
tribally adverb

tribal

2 of 2

noun

: a member of an aboriginal people of India
usually used in plural

Examples of tribal in a Sentence

Adjective a tribal solidarity that transcends all other loyalties or bonds
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Environmental groups, fishing advocates, tribal leaders and local agencies have said the Delta Conveyance Project would harm the delta’s ecosystem and have also raised other concerns. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024 Also, according to the department, the five tribal reservations in this area attract up to 50,000 guests a day to their casinos and other attractions. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2024 Having essentially told the government to go to hell, Gunn and the tribal elders finally made their way to the fight venue, a makeshift arena in a baking-hot parking lot—where, incredibly, over five thousand people had gathered to watch the event. Stayton Bonner, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2024 Under the new rule, companies are required to immediately report releases of PFOA and PFOS that meet or exceed one pound within a 24-hour period to the National Response Center, and also to state, tribal, and local emergency responders. Coral Davenport, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024 The former Cameron advisor argued society fragmenting into deeply tribal factions provided fertile ground for bad-faith actors. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 18 Apr. 2024 Fena conceded the deer hunting stands may have been left on state land illegally and were not marked as a Leech Lake tribal member’s property. John Myers, Twin Cities, 18 Apr. 2024 The tribal college system rewards higher enrollment, which is why many tribal colleges are especially benefiting financially from the upsurge in online students. Matt Krupnick, The Arizona Republic, 14 Apr. 2024 Bainbridge said the property also isn't located on a reservation, which is where tribal nations apply for federal trust status. Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
The 74-page compact, negotiated between DeSantis and Marcellus W. Osceola Jr., chairman of the Seminole tribal, provides the tribe with exclusive rights to a wide array of casino and sports gambling in exchange for billions of dollars in payments to the state. Washington Post, 19 May 2021 The tribal began Monday in Austin, Texas — where Jones lives and broadcasts his show — following months of delays. Jim Vertuno, Hartford Courant, 27 July 2022 State, tribal and community leaders have worked together to ensure Westwater will be connected to an electrical grid next month. The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Mar. 2022 The next day Deshawn, Erika, and Xander head to the final tribal. Joseph Longo, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2021 The figure accounts for all line-of-duty deaths through Dec. 31, 2021, and represents law enforcement officers at the federal, state, county and municipal levels, as well as those in the tribal, campus, military and territorial sectors. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 14 Jan. 2022 Meanwhile, Erika’s superb performance at the final tribal mirrored her gameplay. Joseph Longo, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2021 My lowest moment in the game actually provided me the most healing outside of the game, and that was my breakdown at the final seven tribal. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2021 And who knows what’s going to happen once the Luvu tribe breaks up and heads to tribal. Joseph Longo, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tribal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1632, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tribal was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near tribal

Cite this Entry

“Tribal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribal. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

tribal

adjective
trib·​al
ˈtrī-bəl
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe
tribally
-bə-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on tribal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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