subtribe
noun
sub·tribe
ˈsəb-ˌtrīb 
variants
or sub-tribe
plural subtribes or sub-tribes
: a tribe that is part of a larger tribe
According to tradition the Arapaho were formerly composed of five subtribes, or bands …—
Barbara A. Leitch
Barbara A. LeitchExamples of subtribe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tribal norms place a high value on the individuality of every member of a tribe, and no government—including the monarchy that ruled the country from 1747 to 1973—has ever been able to control the country’s hundreds of tribes, subtribes, and clans.
—Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2022
To more effectively reach out to the population, the Taliban often appoint commanders who come from local subtribes or clans.
—Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2010
In eastern Afghanistan, the Taliban co-opted a range of local Pashtun tribes, subtribes, and powerbrokers.
—Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2010
The triennial is supported by the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, the Chartwell Trust, and local hapū (subtribe) Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
—News Desk, Artforum, 21 June 2024
In parts of Khost Province, for example, the insurgency includes members of the Haqqani network, Zadran subtribes, timber traders, and al Qaeda operatives.
—Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2010
Now there are photos The study is the culmination of more than a decade’s worth of work studying butterflies within Euptychiina, the diverse taxonomic subtribe to which the Saurona genus belongs, according to a news release.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 12 May 2023
Khadija Ismayilova, an investigative reporter from Azerbaijan, is an icon among the subtribe of journalists who work to expose cross-border financial corruption.
—Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 25 July 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2022
To more effectively reach out to the population, the Taliban often appoint commanders who come from local subtribes or clans.
—Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2010
In eastern Afghanistan, the Taliban co-opted a range of local Pashtun tribes, subtribes, and powerbrokers.
—Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2010
The triennial is supported by the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation, the Chartwell Trust, and local hapū (subtribe) Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
—News Desk, Artforum, 21 June 2024
In parts of Khost Province, for example, the insurgency includes members of the Haqqani network, Zadran subtribes, timber traders, and al Qaeda operatives.
—Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2010
Now there are photos The study is the culmination of more than a decade’s worth of work studying butterflies within Euptychiina, the diverse taxonomic subtribe to which the Saurona genus belongs, according to a news release.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN, 12 May 2023
Khadija Ismayilova, an investigative reporter from Azerbaijan, is an icon among the subtribe of journalists who work to expose cross-border financial corruption.
—Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 25 July 2021
Cite this Entry
“Subtribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtribe. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share