tribal

1 of 2

adjective

trib·​al ˈtrī-bəl 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe: as

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a community of people having shared ancestry, culture, and language

tribal members/leaders

a tribal council

protecting tribal lands

… the strained relations between Maine state government and tribal nations …

—Kevin Miller

These are sacred tribal markings, and are assigned through chiefly lineage and placement in a tribe, village or community.

—Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson

b

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a group of people having a common character, occupation, or interest

"Is this your first Comic-Con?," I was repeatedly asked upon arriving in San Diego for this year's tribal gathering.

—James Wolcott

2

: characterized by tribalism : having or showing strong in-group loyalty and often a negative view of outsiders

We are inherently tribal creatures anyway; but particularly when we're scared, we regress further into tribalism and tend to trust the information relayed to us by our tribe and not by others.

—Arash Javanbakht

tribally

ˈtrī-bə-lē 

adverb

tribal

2 of 2

noun

: a member of an aboriginal people of India

—usually used in plural

Synonyms of tribal

Adjective

• ethnic
• racial
• ethnical

Examples of tribal in a Sentence

Adjective

a tribal solidarity that transcends all other loyalties or bonds

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This predicament is not limited to the Wa, but also affects other regional indigenous and tribal groups, such as Karen and Hmong communities in the highlands of Thailand. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 24 July 2026

Under the Section 106 review process, the federal agency overseeing a project must invite interested parties — like preservation groups and local and tribal governments — to weigh in. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 July 2026

Noun

From sacred chants and tribal drumming to protest songs, stadium anthems and dance floors, music has long brought people together through sound, ritual and meaning. — Bija Bennett, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

In a Saturday Instagram Q&A, Bracco offered her take on Young's response to his loss, expressing some sympathy over that devastating final tribal. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 31 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1949, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tribal

• inter-tribal

Rhymes for tribal

• bible
• cybele
• libel
• scribal
• intertribal

Kids Definition

tribal

adjective

trib·​al

ˈtrī-bəl

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe

tribally

-bə-lē

adverb