tribal

play

adjective trib·al \ˈtrī-bəl\

Definition of tribal

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe tribal customs

tribally

play \-bə-lē\ adverb

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Examples of tribal in a Sentence

a tribal solidarity that transcends all other loyalties or bonds

Recent Examples of tribal from the Web

Insurrections have simmered in India’s remote, neglected north-east for decades, and Maoist guerrillas who started fighting in the 1960s still rattle tribal regions in the eastern states of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

— The Economist, "Reconciliation is not impossible, but it will be a long, slow process," 22 July 2017
A DEEPLY CONSERVATIVE COUNTRY Saudi Arabia is a deeply conservative country that is governed by an austere interpretation of Islam widely known as Wahhabism, which draws heavily on the kingdom’s tribal and patriarchal customs.

— Washington Post, "A look at why a Saudi woman’s miniskirt sparked an outcry," 20 July 2017
Tribal council chambers will be on the second floor.

— j. harry jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Rincon tribe to build $20 million administration center," 14 July 2017
The Florida Department of Corrections list of Sneed’s 10 tattoos includes a right lower leg panther head tat, a left forearm tat of Betty Boop with a tribal design, and a right forearm tat that includes Elmer Fudd.

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Cameras catch a couple stealing office equipment," 2 July 2017
Tribal leaders have appealed to the administration for help, and U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has said the agency’s looking at all options to save it.

— mark chediak, Bloomberg.com, "Biggest Coal Plant in U.S. West Gets Another 2 Years to Live," 27 June 2017
Burns noted that students of boarding schools, like his parents, were commonly punished for speaking tribal languages.

— prince shakur, Teen Vogue, "LGBTQ Icons You Need to Know — And How to Find More," 27 June 2017
Libya’s success in the oil fields has been highly improbable at a time when the country is hopelessly divided between two competing governments and several hostile tribal and regional militias.

— clifford krauss, New York Times, "Libya’s Increased Oil Production Thwarts OPEC’s Reduction Plans," 20 June 2017
That the 70s would be the last decade in which movies were truly a tribal experience?)

— lili anolik, VanityFair.com, "Warren Beatty, Pauline Kael, and an Epic Hollywood Mistake," 19 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tribal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.