tribal

[trahy-buhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe.

   tribal customs in Indonesia.

2. designating, characterized by, or relating to a strong sense of loyalty to one’s own tribe, party, or group.

   Tribal politics can be divisive and counterproductive.

ˈtribal

/ ˈtraɪbəl /

adjective

1. of or denoting a tribe or tribes

   tribal chiefs in northern Yemen

2. displaying loyalty to a tribe, group, or tribal values

   the tribal loyalties of Labour MPs

Other Word Forms

• tribally adverb
• nontribal adjective
• quasi-tribal adjective
• subtribal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tribal¹

First recorded in 1625–35; tribe + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The same went for children born in quasi-sovereign tribal Indian enclaves, precursors of today’s reservations.

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In addition to gaming space, the facility will have a tribal government center, a medical facility and housing for tribe members.

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The proposal could also help revive horse culture that runs deep in the tribal communities, Saulque said.

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Locals and tribal communities in central and eastern India have long found themselves caught in a crossfire between Maoist rebels and government security forces.

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In the tribal world of K-Pop, such cases are surprisingly common, as overzealous fans attempt to trash their rivals.

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