adj
Common
tribal
TREYE-buhl
Tribal (adj) means relating to, or organized around, a tribe or tribes. Example: “The museum has a display about the tribal customs of the region.”
adj
1
Relating to, or organized around, a tribe or tribes.
"The museum has a display about the tribal customs of the region."
"Some tribal communities still speak languages that few outsiders have ever learned."
"The region has long been governed by tribal councils."
"social order through tribal law"
2
Showing strong loyalty to one's own group, often at the expense of outsiders.
"Fans can get tribal on match days and refuse to talk to the other side."
"The office became tribal, with each department blaming the others for every mistake."
"Political debate has grown increasingly tribal in recent years."
How to use tribal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to a tribe, or (more broadly today) describing strong in-group loyalty and us-versus-them thinking.
Common pairings
tribal customs
tribal loyalty
tribal politics
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Word forms
- Plural
- tribals
- Comparative
- more tribal
- Superlative
- most tribal
Fill the gap
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The museum has a display about the _____ customs of the region.
Etymology
From Latin tribalis, built on tribus ("tribe"), first recorded in English in the 1630s.
Class of 1630
tribal joined the language around 1630.
See the full Class of 1630 →
Related words
Rhymes for tribal
See all rhymes for 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.
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