: a member of an aboriginal people of India
—usually used in plural
Synonyms
Examples of tribal in a Sentence
Adjective
a tribal solidarity that transcends all other loyalties or bonds
Recent Examples on the Web
Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024
In other Western water news: Opposition from the Colorado River’s Upper Basin states may stop Congress from approving a Lower Basin tribal water rights settlement before President Biden leaves office.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 4 Sep. 2024
After Ben Driebergen protects himself at three consecutive tribals with immunity idols, Chrissy Hoffbeck, Devon Pinto, and Ryan Ulrich expect to be able to send him home at final four, where idols can no longer be played.
—Nic Juarez, Vulture, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for tribal 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
William Quackenbush, tribal historic preservation officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation and president of Wisconsin Inter-Tribal Repatriations Committee, attended the meeting and provided a brief history lesson of why Wisconsin started protecting these burial sites in the 1990s.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024
In other Western water news: Opposition from the Colorado River’s Upper Basin states may stop Congress from approving a Lower Basin tribal water rights settlement before President Biden leaves office.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
Todd had the greatest final tribal of all time with his way with words.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 4 Sep. 2024
After Ben Driebergen protects himself at three consecutive tribals with immunity idols, Chrissy Hoffbeck, Devon Pinto, and Ryan Ulrich expect to be able to send him home at final four, where idols can no longer be played.
—Nic Juarez, Vulture, 4 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for tribal
Dictionary Entries Near tribal
Cite this Entry
“Tribal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribal. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share