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
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
But through a series of deft legal maneuvers—joined to the ever more ambitious self-concepts of some international legal tribunals—Mauritius was able to win a second legal victory at another international tribunal, for the law of the sea.
—
David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
His mock tribunal about Congo, which was performed in 2015 with real judges, real witnesses, and a genuine verdict, led to two ministers being dismissed from the government.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
The position will also represent the department in front of administrative tribunals such as the State Personnel Board and the California Department of Human Resources as well as assist the attorney general’s office on civil litigation matters.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
updated February 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Feb. 2026
When Liverpool signed teenager Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea, the fee for the winger went to a tribunal.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tribunal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
His mock tribunal about Congo, which was performed in 2015 with real judges, real witnesses, and a genuine verdict, led to two ministers being dismissed from the government.
—Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
The position will also represent the department in front of administrative tribunals such as the State Personnel Board and the California Department of Human Resources as well as assist the attorney general’s office on civil litigation matters.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
updated February 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Feb. 2026
When Liverpool signed teenager Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea, the fee for the winger went to a tribunal.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tribunal
Cite this Entry
“Tribunal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribunal. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
