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detribalize

American  
[dee-trahy-buh-lahyz] / diˈtraɪ bəˌlaɪz /
especially British, detribalise

verb (used with object)

detribalized, detribalizing
  1. to cause to lose tribal allegiances and customs, chiefly through contact with another culture.


detribalize British  
/ diːˈtraɪbəˌlaɪz /

verb

  1. to cause members of a tribe to lose their characteristic customs or social, religious, or other organizational features

  2. to cause tribal people to adopt urban ways of life

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • detribalization noun

Etymology

Origin of detribalize

First recorded in 1915–20; de- + tribal + -ize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But his arguments about how “detribalized” we’ve become are undeniably strong.

From New York Times