tribalism

American  

[trahy-buh-liz-uhm] / ˈtraɪ bəˌlɪz əm /

noun

1. the customs and beliefs of tribal life and society.

2. strong loyalty to one's own tribe, party, or group.

   the tribalism of New Yorkers.

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tribalism British  

/ ˈtraɪbəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the state of existing as a separate tribe or tribes

2. the customs and beliefs of a tribal society

3. loyalty to a tribe or tribal values

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Other Word Forms

• tribalist noun
• tribalistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of tribalism

First recorded in 1885–90; tribal + -ism

Example Sentences

And he makes a claim for the relevance of his project: “These poems rebut the parochialism and tribalism that dog our present, even as they appeal to universal experiences and values.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

But yet our instinct toward nationalism and tribalism keeps us in this constant state of ‘us’ against ‘them.’

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025

As it draws to a close, Hwang’s lethal playground games are cautionary parables about tribalism driven by greed.

From Salon • Jun. 27, 2025

However, he has also been accused of promoting tribalism rather than being a unifying figure.

From BBC • Oct. 1, 2024

Ignorance and tribalism claimed him so wholly—mind, body and soul—that he was baffled why the world, his wife, his children, were seemingly turned against him.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane