tribe

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noun \ ˈtrīb \

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

In 1897-1898, a general rebellion of the Pathan tribes required the deployment of a 44,000-strong British force to put it down - the largest British field force ever deployed in Asia to that point.

— chicagotribune.com, "There is no war in Afghanistan," 30 Aug. 2017
The Trump administration has also proposed deep cuts to the federal Indian Health Service budget, which the hospital depends on to provide health care to 58 Native tribes in the region.

— kirk johnson, New York Times, "Pregnant and Far from Home, a Sisterhood of the Expecting," 24 Aug. 2017
But construction of the dam had a devastating effect on the Colville and Spokane tribes of the Pacific Northwest, whose livelihood and culture were wrapped around the movement of salmon.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "What I did on my summer vacation," 11 Aug. 2017
Only one stakeholder in the place wanted to know what was going on beneath its soil: the tribes.

— michael lewis, The Hive, "Why the Scariest Nuclear Threat May Be Coming from Inside the White House," 2 Aug. 2017
Such a population is a godsend to a researcher, but Jillian’s interest isn’t in the diabetes that is decimating the tribe.

— connie ogle, miamiherald, "Provocative play asks: How far would you go to protect your daughter?," 31 July 2017
Foley officials are currently looking for a management company to oversee the center, and the tribe is interested.

— john sharp, AL.com, "Alabama's newest amusement park, OWA, officially opens," 20 July 2017
Even around the arid Kalahari food is plentiful (at least when the tribes are not forced to share the land with farmers and ranchers)—so much so that the typical adult need work less than 20 hours per week.

— The Economist, "Living off the land," 20 July 2017
Even though these are fantasy worlds, there are tribes, families, and dynasties.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "'Game of Thrones' Casting Director Responds to Lack of Diverse Actors on Show," 12 July 2017

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

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First Known Use: 13th century

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tribe Synonyms

Synonyms

blood, clan, folks, house, kin, kindred, kinfolk (or kinfolks), kinsfolk, line, lineage, people, race, stock, family

Related Words

blended family, nuclear family; extended family, household, kith; brood; descendant (also descendent), issue, offspring, progeny, scion, seed; clansman, kinsman, kinswoman, relative; dynasty

Near Antonyms

ancestry, birth, descent, extraction, origin, pedigree

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

TRIBE Defined for English Language Learners

tribe

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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

TRIBE Defined for Kids

tribe

play

noun \ ˈtrīb \

Definition of tribe for Students

1 :a group of people including many families, clans, or generations

an American Indian tribe

2 :a group of people who are of the same kind or have the same occupation or interest

Medical Dictionary

tribe

play

noun \ ˈtrīb \

medical Definition of tribe

:a category of taxonomic classification sometimes equivalent to or ranking just below a suborder but more commonly ranking below a subfamily

Learn More about tribe

See words that rhyme with tribe Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tribe Spanish Central: Translation of tribe Nglish: Translation of tribe for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tribe for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tribe

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Examples of tribe in a Sentence

Recent Examples of tribe from the Web

Origin and Etymology of tribe

tribe Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Anthropology Terms

TRIBE Defined for English Language Learners

tribe

Definition of tribe for English Language Learners

TRIBE Defined for Kids

tribe

Definition of tribe for Students

Medical Dictionary

tribe

medical Definition of tribe

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