tribal

American  

[trahy-buhl] / ˈtraɪ bəl /

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.

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tribal British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of tribal

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

Explanation

Tribal things have something to do with a group or tribe, like Native Americans' tribal land, where certain tribes lived for thousands of years. You might have heard the term "tribal sovereignty" before — it's basically the legal right of indigenous or native people to govern themselves under certain conditions. In the United States, for example, tribal groups are recognized as "domestic dependent nations." Sometimes the adjective tribal is slightly derogatory, but only when it's used to mean "overly loyal to a group."

Example Sentences

Federal prosecutors lacked adequate resources and staffing, while tribal courts were capped at three-year sentences, creating loopholes that the worst criminals could exploit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Olstad, who is not a tribal member, is also losing her job.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

But the drafters of the 14th Amendment saw a need for constitutional language that more clearly excluded the children of tribal Indians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

But it can’t be taken literally; otherwise it would include tribal Indians.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

There’s nothing to affirm a tribal identity, or consolidate power around a leader, like having an Other to denounce.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith