tribe

noun \ ˈtrīb \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Definition of tribe

1 a : a social group comprising numerous families, clans, or generations together with slaves, dependents, or adopted strangers

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

3 : a category of taxonomic classification ranking below a subfamily; also : a natural group irrespective of taxonomic rank

the cat tribe

the rose tribe

See tribe defined for English-language learners

See tribe defined for kids

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 of tribe from the Web

Three of the other speakers were members of Idaho tribes.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "In Boise, EPA head Scott Pruitt talks pollution program, ducks ethics questions," 5 June 2018
Polo eventually became a national sport in Persia following a migration of Asian nomadic tribes between 600 B.C. and 100 A.D., and then spread east to places like Tibet, China and Japan, and then south to India.

— brittany britto, baltimoresun.com, "Saddle up: Maryland Polo Club celebrates 'sport of kings' with weekly matches, lively BritFest," 5 June 2018
The case presented a challenge for the state Supreme Court's five-person conservative majority, forcing them to choose between angering a business or the Ho-Chunk, one of Wisconsin's richest and most powerful tribes.

— todd richmond, chicagotribune.com, "Wisconsin Supreme Court blocks concrete company from digging up American Indian burial mounds," 22 May 2018
But some time in the first century CE, two of those tribes clashed in what is now the Alken Enge wetlands in the Illerup River Valley in Denmark.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "2,000 years ago in Denmark, a fierce battle left dozens dead," 21 May 2018
Few of the country's 573 tribes are engaged in drilling and mining.

— evan halper, latimes.com, "The Trump agenda has Native American tribes feeling under siege," 15 May 2018
Each of Wisconsin's 11 tribes operates at least one casino.

— patrick marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Supreme Court sports betting ruling expected to have no immediate impact in Wisconsin," 14 May 2018
The project has set off protests by environmentalists in British Columbia, who argue the pipeline expansion could damage western Canada's forests and rivers and Kinder has not done taken into account the needs of indigenous tribes.

— Houston Chronicle, "Kinder Morgan caught in middle of Canadian political fight," 30 Apr. 2018
The federal government currently acknowledges the existence of at least 567 tribes located in the U.S., although there are more that are recognized by states.

— ruth hopkins, Teen Vogue, "Native Tribes Could Lose Federal Recognition of Tribal Sovereignty Under Trump," 24 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of tribe

Middle English, from Latin tribus, a division of the Roman people, tribe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

tribe Synonyms

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

TRIBE Defined for English Language Learners

tribe

noun

Definition of tribe for English Language Learners

: a group of people that includes many families and relatives who have the same language, customs, and beliefs
: a large family
: a group of people who have the same job or interest