plural tribes
1
a
: a community composed chiefly of numerous families, clans, or generations who have a shared ancestry, culture, and language
nomadic desert tribes
coastal tribes of North America
—often used in the capitalized names of specific tribesmembers of the Hopi Tribe
b
: a political division of the Roman people originally representing one of the three original tribes of ancient Rome
c
: phyle
2
: a group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest
… key pieces of advice: find your tribe online, post that unfiltered selfie …—
Chloe Hall
Chloe Hall… my tribe of mom friends …—Jo Piazza
Jo Piazza3
: a category of taxonomic classification ranking below a subfamily
also
: a natural group irrespective of taxonomic rank
the cat tribe
the rose tribe
Examples of tribe in a Sentence
a tribe of artists with wild hair and casual manners
the wedding joined the two tribes together
Recent Examples on the Web
For many tribes, gaming has been the foundation upon which broader economic and social progress has been built.
—Cody J Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Indian tribes retained the right to conduct Nevada-style casinos on reservations in 2000, a form of gambling that is otherwise prohibited through the state’s Constitution.
—Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The tribe reportedly reached an agreement with the Boston group in July, and though the deal was presented to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, it was never brought before the Board of Governors, which must approve any deal.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
William is sent on a spy-adjacent mission by Captain Ezekiel Richardson that takes him through Great Dismal Swamp on the North Carolina–Virginia border, where he promptly gets lost and seriously injured until Ian, who is working as a liaison with the Native tribes, comes upon him.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tribe
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Cody J Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Indian tribes retained the right to conduct Nevada-style casinos on reservations in 2000, a form of gambling that is otherwise prohibited through the state’s Constitution.
—Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The tribe reportedly reached an agreement with the Boston group in July, and though the deal was presented to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, it was never brought before the Board of Governors, which must approve any deal.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
William is sent on a spy-adjacent mission by Captain Ezekiel Richardson that takes him through Great Dismal Swamp on the North Carolina–Virginia border, where he promptly gets lost and seriously injured until Ian, who is working as a liaison with the Native tribes, comes upon him.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tribe
Cite this Entry
“Tribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribe. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tribe
noun1
: a social group made up of many families, clans, or generations that share the same language, customs, and beliefs
2
: a group of persons with a common character, occupation, or interest
3
: a group of related plants or animals
Medical Definition
tribe
noun
: a category of taxonomic classification sometimes equivalent to or ranking just below a suborder but more commonly ranking below a subfamily
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