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

• 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

The tribunal will zoom in on Russia’s wartime aggression, in contravention of the UN Charter, and on the very top leaders orchestrating the invasion. —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Unfortunately, the tribunal interpreted it differently. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2025

The lower chamber of the Philippine Congress received at least four separate cases of impeachment against the Vice President between December and February—though only one was transferred to the Senate, which would have served as the impeachment tribunal. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 25 July 2025

In the early 1870s, an unprecedented international tribunal deliberated the Alabama claims, which accused the British of enabling Confederate ships in violation of their neutrality agreement. —Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025

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