tributary
Americannoun
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a stream that flows to a larger stream or other body of water.
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a person or nation that pays tribute in acknowledgment of subjugation or the like.
adjective
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(of a stream) flowing into a larger stream or other body of water.
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furnishing subsidiary aid; contributory.
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paying or required to pay tribute.
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paid as tribute.
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subject; subordinate.
a tributary nation.
noun
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a stream, river, or glacier that feeds another larger one
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a person, nation, or people that pays tribute
adjective
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(of a stream, etc) feeding a larger stream
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given or owed as a tribute
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paying tribute
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tributary
1325–75; Middle English (adj. and noun) < Latin tribūtārius of tribute, one who pays tribute. See tribute, -ary
Explanation
A tributary is a branch that flows into the main stream, like the White River, the Arkansas River, the Yazoo River ,and the Red River — each a tributary of the mighty Mississippi. The noun tributary is related to the word tribute and both come from the Latin word tributum, meaning “a thing contributed or paid.” Long ago, a tributary was someone who was forced to pay a person or group in return for protection — namely from those who received the tribute. Today, a tributary is a smaller body of water that flows into a larger one or a contributing factor in something that happens.
Vocabulary lists containing tributary
Physical Geography - Introductory
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Physical Geography - Middle School
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Physical Geography - High School
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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.
The tributary of the Potomac River cutting across the land was called Tiber Creek after the river that flowed through the Eternal City.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026
Cleanup teams are skimming and pumping oil from the tributary and deploying absorbent booms and pads to recover oil trapped along the creek bed.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2025
The Yamuna river, a major tributary of the Ganges, continues to suffer from severe pollution despite repeated clean-up pledges.
From Barron's • Oct. 27, 2025
The River Lugg is a major tributary of the Wye, flowing predominately through Herefordshire.
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025
By the time noon approached the tributary was gradually growing smaller.
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
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.
