tributary

1 of 2

noun

trib·​u·​tary ˈtri-byə-ˌter-ē 

plural tributaries

1

: a stream feeding a larger stream or a lake

2

: a ruler or state that pays tribute to a conqueror

tributary

2 of 2

adjective

1

: paying tribute to another to acknowledge submission, to obtain protection, or to purchase peace : subject

2

: paid or owed as tribute

tributary gifts

3

: channeling material or supplies into something more inclusive : contributory

Did you know?

A tributary was originally a person or state that owed tribute to a more powerful person or state. Ancient China, for instance, had dozens of tributary states, and the emperor would receive elephants from Siam or young girls from Korea as tribute. Just as a smaller power gave some of its wealth to a larger power, a small river contributes its waters to a larger one. A tributary can be a tiny stream, but some are immense rivers. The Missouri River, for example, could be called a tributary to the Mississippi, even though it's about 2,500 miles long and receives hundreds of tributaries itself.

Synonyms

Noun

• affluent
• bayou
• branch
• confluent
• feeder
• influent

Examples of tributary in a Sentence

Noun

one of the river's tributaries

This stream is a tributary of the Ohio River.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Unlike flooding, other techniques (for example drip irrigation) do not cause water to overflow the field and runoff into a tributary, where the nutrient pollution enters the wider aqueous ecosystem. —Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

White water rafting, kayaking and canoeing: The Trinity River, a 203-mile tributary of the Klamath River, starts in the Trinity Alps and features calm waters and multiple classes of white water. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025

Adjective

These fish will be suspending now rather than holding tight to the bottom, so your best approach is to cover a lot of water by slow-trolling small crankbaits like the Bandit 100 and Bomber Model A. Target the deep ends of gravel flats, major points at tributary mouths, and creek-channel drops. —Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024

That salty, terminal lake had its tributary water diverted away by the city of Los Angeles, turning it into a dry salt flat. —Leia Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tributary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• beriberi
• breviary
• budgetary
• capillary
• catenary
• cautionary

Kids Definition

tributary

1 of 2 adjective

trib·​u·​tary ˈtrib-yə-ˌter-ē 

1

: paying tribute to another : subject

2

: paid or owed as tribute

3

: contributing or adding to something larger or more important

especially : flowing into a larger stream or lake

tributary

2 of 2 noun

plural tributaries

1

: a ruler or state that pays tribute to a conqueror

2

: a stream flowing into a larger stream or a lake

Medical Definition

tributary

noun

trib·​u·​tary ˈtrib-yə-ˌter-ē 

plural tributaries

: a vein that empties into a larger vein