tribunal

[trahy-byoon-l, trih-]

noun

1. a court of justice.

2. a place or seat of judgment.

3. Also called tribune. a raised platform for the seats of magistrates, as in an ancient Roman basilica.

tribunal

/ trɪ-, traɪˈbjuːnəl /

noun

1. a court of justice or any place where justice is administered

2. (in Britain) a special court, convened by the government to inquire into a specific matter

3. a raised platform containing the seat of a judge or magistrate, originally that in a Roman basilica

Word History and Origins

Origin of tribunal¹

1520–30; < Latin tribūnal, tribūnāle judgment seat, equivalent to tribūn ( us ) tribune ¹ + -āl ( e ) -al ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of tribunal¹

C16: from Latin tribūnus _tribune ¹

Example Sentences

The tribunal ruled that the chosen investigator was not "appropriate", witness statements were inconsistent and the probe was "largely based on assumptions".

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The tribunal was held after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

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Lord Jonathan Sumption, the former Supreme Court judge, believes that some decisions by immigration tribunal judges have become "extravagant" and far removed from the original boundaries of the right to family life.

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Now, the tight-knit family unit that entered the Avignon tribunal last September is no more.

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It can investigate doctors who are referred to it and decide whether a case is passed to a medical tribunal, which has the power to sanction staff.

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Related Words

• board 
• committee 
• judge 
• justice