tribune

¹ American  

[trib-yoon, trih-byoon] / ˈtrɪb yun, trɪˈbyun /

noun

1. a person who upholds or defends the rights of the people.

2. Roman History.

   1. any of various administrative officers, especially one of 10 officers elected to protect the interests and rights of the plebeians from the patricians.

   2. any of the six officers of a legion who rotated in commanding the legion during the year.

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tribune ² American  

[trib-yoon, trih-byoon] / ˈtrɪb yun, trɪˈbyun /

noun

1. a raised platform for a speaker; a dais, rostrum, or pulpit.

2. a raised part, or gallery, with seats, as in a church.

3. (in a Christian basilica) the bishop's throne, occupying a recess or apse.

4. the apse itself.

5. tribunal.

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tribune ¹ British  

/ ˈtrɪbjuːn /

noun

1. 1. the apse of a Christian basilica that contains the bishop's throne

   2. the throne itself

2. a gallery or raised area in a church

3. rare a raised platform from which a speaker may address an audience; dais

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tribune ² British  

/ ˈtrɪbjuːn /

noun

1. 1. an officer elected by the plebs to protect their interests. Originally there were two of these officers but finally there were ten

   2. a senior military officer

2. a person or institution that upholds public rights; champion

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Other Word Forms

• tribunary adjective
• tribuneship noun
• tribunicial adjective
• tribunitial adjective

Etymology

Origin of tribune¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin tribūnus, derivative of tribus tribe

Origin of tribune²

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin tribūna; replacing Latin tribūnāle tribunal

Explanation

A tribune was someone in the government of ancient Rome who looked out for ordinary people, in other words, an elected representative. Tribune is also a word that newspapers like, such as the "Chicago Tribune" or the "Des Moines Tribune." There are many types of tribunes, but the earliest dates from ancient Rome. In Rome, a tribune was an elected representative of the common people. A tribune was expected to look after the interests of the people, just like our politicians today. Another type of tribune comes from the world of architecture, specifically the architecture of Christian churches. The tribune is a part of the church, often under a dome, where you can find the throne of a bishop.

Example Sentences

It was down to the last five quickest from the first leg, the tension palpable around a packed tribune.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

Harbored at different times by Yemen, Syria, East Germany and communist Hungary, this self-appointed tribune of the oppressed was finally captured in Sudan in 1994, then convicted in France of multiple murders.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

India is the guest of honor at this year’s Bastille Day parade, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to watch in the VIP tribune alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 14, 2023

India is the guest of honor at this year’s Bastille Day parade, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi watching in the VIP tribune alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.

From Washington Times • Jul. 14, 2023

Two inscriptions on the exterior show that the Caius Cestius buried here was a pr�tor, a tribune of the people, and one of the "Epulones" appointed to provide the sacrificial feasts of the gods.

From Walks in Rome by Hare, Augustus J. C.