tribunal

noun

tri·​bu·​nal trī-ˈbyü-nᵊl 

tri-

1

: a court or forum of justice

2

: something that decides or determines

the tribunal of public opinion

3

: tribune entry 2

Synonyms of tribunal

• court
• bench
• judiciary

Examples of tribunal in a Sentence

An international tribunal was formed to deal with war crimes.

was tried before a military tribunal and found not guilty of the charges

Recent Examples on the Web

Another former 21 Air chief pilot, Bruce Joseph, testified to the tribunal that at least three pilots had refused to fly due to safety concerns. — Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

In England, boxer Jane Couch took the British Board of Boxing Control to an industrial tribunal over their refusal to grant her (or any woman) a professional boxing licence. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Vucic last week accused the West and The Hague tribunal of blaming only Serbs for the crimes and bringing no justice for the Serb victims. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Kavanagh originally made this allegation in an employment tribunal lawsuit filed alongside her High Court claim. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, platform for magistrates, from tribunus tribune

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for tribunal

• communal
• jejunal
• lagoonal
• monsoonal
• intercommunal

Kids Definition

tribunal

noun

tri·​bu·​nal trī-ˈbyün-ᵊl 

trib-ˈyün-

1

: the seat of a judge

2

: a court of justice

3

: something that decides or determines

the tribunal of public opinion

Legal Definition

tribunal

noun

tri·​bu·​nal trī-ˈbyün-ᵊl, tri- 

1

: the seat of a judge or one acting as a judge

2

: a court or forum of justice : a person or body of persons having to hear and decide disputes so as to bind the parties

Etymology

Latin, platform for magistrates, from tribunus tribune, from tribus tribe