: 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
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Opened in 2021, the museum holds objects, traditions, and songs from members of the 39 distinct tribal nations in Oklahoma, around 10 percent of its population — many of whom were taken there by removals during the 19th century.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
The plan is being fought in court by environmental groups, tribal leaders and fishing advocates, who argue the tunnel project would harm the delta’s already jeopardized ecosystem.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
North Carolina residents can apply for patient cards, although tribal officials have said cards are being issued at first only to tribal members with qualifying medical conditions.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2024
There has been some movement toward more tribal participation.
—The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2024
The 30-foot-tall mural depicts scenes and elements of Miwok and Nisenan tribal life, including Native dancers, oak trees (the school’s new mascot is the Mighty Oaks), a Miwok woman and forest animals.
—Lezlie Sterling, Sacramento Bee, 31 Mar. 2024
Here, tribal consultants have collaborated on displays of exquisite pottery, basketry, and dress by Hopi, Yavapai, and Zuni peoples, among others.
—Leslie Camhi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024
In Mexico, the standard of proof to claim Yaqui tribal heritage is being born in Río Yaqui, how much tribal ancestry.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 2024
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
Adjective
Meanwhile, a pair of tribal nations in Washington state filed lawsuits late last year, citing the costs of moving to higher ground as rising sea levels threaten their communities.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
Opened in 2021, the museum holds objects, traditions, and songs from members of the 39 distinct tribal nations in Oklahoma, around 10 percent of its population — many of whom were taken there by removals during the 19th century.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 4 Apr. 2024
The plan is being fought in court by environmental groups, tribal leaders and fishing advocates, who argue the tunnel project would harm the delta’s already jeopardized ecosystem.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
North Carolina residents can apply for patient cards, although tribal officials have said cards are being issued at first only to tribal members with qualifying medical conditions.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2024
There has been some movement toward more tribal participation.
—The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2024
The 30-foot-tall mural depicts scenes and elements of Miwok and Nisenan tribal life, including Native dancers, oak trees (the school’s new mascot is the Mighty Oaks), a Miwok woman and forest animals.
—Lezlie Sterling, Sacramento Bee, 31 Mar. 2024
Here, tribal consultants have collaborated on displays of exquisite pottery, basketry, and dress by Hopi, Yavapai, and Zuni peoples, among others.
—Leslie Camhi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Mar. 2024
In Mexico, the standard of proof to claim Yaqui tribal heritage is being born in Río Yaqui, how much tribal ancestry.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 30 Mar. 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
Phrases Containing tribal
Dictionary Entries Near tribal
Cite this Entry
“Tribal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribal. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
tribal
adjective
trib·al
ˈtrī-bəl
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe
tribally
adverb
-bə-lē
More from Merriam-Webster on tribal
Nglish: Translation of tribal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of tribal for Arabic Speakers
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