tribe

American  

[trahyb] / traɪb /

noun

• tribes
  plural

1. any group of people, typically a subdivision of a nation or an ethnic group, that is united by ties of descent from a common ancestor, shared customs and traditions, recognition of the same leader or leaders, etc.; a group of related clans.

   The twelve tribes of Israel were descended from the twelve sons of Jacob.

2. Sometimes Offensive. a group of Indigenous people sharing the same ethnicity, language, territory, customs, history, etc.: now often referred to as a nation.

3. a division of any of the premodern peoples of Europe or Asia.

   After the Romans left the Low Countries in the 5th century, Frankish tribes dominated.

   In 1206 Genghis Khan united all the Mongol tribes to form the great Mongol nation.

4. a company, group, or number of people.

   Every afternoon a noisy tribe of children—friends of my brother and me—would gather in our yard.

5. a group or class of people with strong common traits, values, or interests.

   We in the tribe of journalists tend to be cynical about such conferences—they’re mainly about platitudes and photo ops.

6. a large family.

   Don't invite your brother and his tribe to sleep over—I don't know where we'd put all those kids!

7. a category or type of living things or inanimate objects.

   Next to the robin, the sparrow is the boldest of our feathered tribe.

   Over there is a tribe of mismatched stuffed chairs.

8. Biology.

   1. a category in the classification of organisms usually between a subfamily and a genus or sometimes between a suborder and a family.

   2. any group of closely related plants or animals.

9. Animal Husbandry. a group of animals, especially cattle, descended through the female line from a common female ancestor.

10. Roman History.

    1. any one of three divisions of the people representing the Latin, Sabine, and Etruscan settlements.

    2. any of the later political divisions of the people.

11. Greek History. a phyle.

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tribe British  

/ traɪb /

noun

1. a social division of a people, esp of a preliterate people, defined in terms of common descent, territory, culture, etc

2. 1. any of the three divisions of the ancient Romans, the Latins, Sabines, and Etruscans

   2. one of the later political divisions of the Roman people

   3. any of the 12 divisions of ancient Israel, each of which was named after and believed to be descended from one of the 12 patriarchs

   4. a phyle of ancient Greece

3. informal

   1. a large number of persons, animals, etc

   2. a specific class or group of persons

   3. a family, esp a large one

4. biology a taxonomic group that is a subdivision of a subfamily

5. stockbreeding a strain of animals descended from a common female ancestor through the female line

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Usage

It was formerly common to refer to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Africa, and elsewhere as tribes: the Yoruba tribe, the Mohawk tribe, tribes of the Amazon jungle. This often reflected an ethnocentric perception among colonizing European nations that such peoples were mere kin groups too small in number, and too backward or primitive in terms of social and political organization and other cultural development, to be “nations.” The word tribe is also used to refer historically to the premodern Indigenous peoples of Eurasia, regarded as uncivilized barbarians by the Romans. Because of these unwanted connotations and associations, many Indigenous peoples of today reject the term tribe and prefer to be known as nations, reflecting the same social and political status, cultural complexity and sophistication, etc., as any other nation. Since nationhood typically connotes connection with a territory, the word nation also serves as a reminder that Indigenous peoples have largely been dispossessed of theirs. In some cases, however, the word tribe is still appropriate. For example, where a large Indigenous nation is spread over a wide area, different linguistic or cultural divisions or different geographic communities within that nation might refer to themselves as tribes: Louis Bull Tribe is part of the Cree nation, the largest First Nations group in Canada. This is especially true if the subgroup has its own political leadership and a legal relationship with the government, although in Canada such a local community is more often called a band. In the United States, an Indigenous group that has such a relationship with the federal or state government may be called a tribe regardless of whether it corresponds to a single ethnic group or a division of one, and band can refer to any of various kinds of subgroups. It is best to find out what term is used by the particular group to refer to itself. When speaking more generally of Indigenous groups, the word people ( peoples for multiple groups) is appropriate: the Indigenous peoples of the plains.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subtribe
  noun
• undertribe
  noun
• tribeless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tribes
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of tribe

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French tribu, from Latin tribus “tribe,” originally referring to any of the three divisions of the Roman people; perhaps from Etruscan; perhaps a derivative of trēs (masculine and feminine), tria (neuter) “three” (combining form tri-) + -bus, a suffix of unclear formation; see also three

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Explanation

A tribe is a traditional social group of people. Most tribes have existed much longer than existing states and countries. Tribes follow rules and traditions that aren't connected to modern-day governments or mainstream societies. Indigenous people of North America lived (and many continue to live) in tribes, although the word itself is controversial — many of their members prefer the terms nation or ethnic group instead. Sometimes tribe is used to simply mean "family" or "clan," or even a large group: "A tribe of college students roamed the streets."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tribe tribes

It was adopted to mark the Islands’ Christian heritage, but the ancient line was composed by David, ruler of the tribe of Judah.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

A member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, she had served as the secretary of the interior under former president Joe Biden, the first Native American to serve as a US cabinet secretary.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

The point is the conformity itself — the act of obeisance to the tribe, the bending of the knee.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026

In 2023, the tribe signed an agreement with California State Parks to help manage over a dozen state parks in their region.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

Sometimes relations with neighbouring bands were tight enough that together they constituted a single tribe, sharing a common language, common myths, and common norms and values.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Sports gambling regulation belongs to states and tribes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

The researchers said in a statement that local tribes gave them essential field support and knowledge that helped make the discoveries possible.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

He wasn’t the first to encounter them—the Yosemite Native tribes called the trees “wawona,” like the sound made by the northern spotted owl.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Leonard says different "tribes" have emerged out of these crises.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

But the supernatural beliefs of bands and tribes did not serve to justify central authority, justify transfer of wealth, or maintain peace between unrelated individuals.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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Related Words

• association
• caste
• clan
• people
• society

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