tribal
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of a tribe.
tribal customs in Indonesia.
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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.
adjective
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of or denoting a tribe or tribes
tribal chiefs in northern Yemen
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displaying loyalty to a tribe, group, or tribal values
the tribal loyalties of Labour MPs
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tribal
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."
Vocabulary lists containing tribal
"Black Panther" Lingo
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -al, -ial
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TKAM excerpt
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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.
Tribal governments supported these challenges while advancing expansive theories of McGirt, pressing into civil jurisdiction and taxation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Trump, in his Truth Social post, also pointed to Mullin's Native American heritage, saying he would be a "fantastic advocate for our incredible Tribal Communities."
From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026
Tribal sovereignty doesn’t matter,’” said Victor Rocha, who chairs the Indian Gaming Assn. and is a member of the Pechanga Band of Indians.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2026
Tribal elders suggested Wo'aabi, an Indigenous word meaning "worm."
From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2026
Immediately my body tenses, but she puts two fingers to her lips—the most binding of Tribal vows.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
