: a member of an aboriginal people of India
—usually used in plural
Synonyms
Examples of tribal in a Sentence
Adjective
a tribal solidarity that transcends all other loyalties or bonds
Recent Examples on the Web
Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Sep. 2024
Nearly 200 years ago, when the government forced the the original inhabitants of northern Wisconsin, the Ojibwe, onto reservations, tribal leaders chose to move to lands that would best sustain wild rice.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2024
Nic Juarez, Vulture, 4 June 2024
Ben, who has survived the last three tribals with no alliance and idol plays, wins firemaking owing to this twist and goes on to win the game.
—Nic Juarez, Vulture, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for tribal 
Adjective
But we were totally funded to start CFI with tribal funding.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Sep. 2024
Nearly 200 years ago, when the government forced the the original inhabitants of northern Wisconsin, the Ojibwe, onto reservations, tribal leaders chose to move to lands that would best sustain wild rice.
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 3 Sep. 2024
Noun
After Ben Driebergen protects himself at three consecutive tribals with immunity idols, Chrissy Hoffbeck, Devon Pinto, and Ryan Ulrich expect to be able to send him home at final four, where idols can no longer be played.
—Nic Juarez, Vulture, 4 June 2024
Ben, who has survived the last three tribals with no alliance and idol plays, wins firemaking owing to this twist and goes on to win the game.
—Nic Juarez, Vulture, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for tribal
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.
Dictionary Entries Near tribal
Cite this Entry
“Tribal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribal. Accessed 8 Sep. 2024.
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