tribal
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for tribal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to, or organized around, a tribe or tribes.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use tribal
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin tribalis, built on tribus ("tribe"), first recorded in English in the 1630s.
Full origin of tribal →Frequently asked questions
What does “tribal” mean?
The word “tribal” means relating to, or organized around, a tribe or tribes. In plain terms, relating to a tribe, or (more broadly today) describing strong in-group loyalty and us-versus-them thinking.
How do you pronounce “tribal”?
“Tribal” is pronounced TREYE-buhl (/ˈtɹaɪbəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “tribal” in a sentence?
Here is “tribal” used in a sentence: “The region has long been governed by tribal councils.”
What part of speech is “tribal”?
“Tribal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “tribal” come from?
The word “tribal” dates back to around 1630 and comes from Latin. From Latin tribalis, built on tribus ("tribe"), first recorded in English in the 1630s.
Is “tribal” a common word?
“Tribal” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tribal” have?
“Tribal” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to, or organized around, a tribe or tribes.
What is the difference between tribal and tribalism?
Tribal is the adjective: it describes something relating to a tribe, or behavior marked by fierce group loyalty. Tribalism is the noun naming that state or behavior itself — the mindset of favoring one's own group over outsiders.
Can tribal describe people who don't belong to a tribe?
Yes. Beyond its literal sense of relating to a tribe or tribes, tribal is widely used figuratively for any group — sports fans, voters, workplaces — whose members show strong loyalty to their own side, often at the expense of outsiders.