plural tribes
1
2
: a group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest
3
: a category of taxonomic classification ranking below a subfamily
also
: a natural group irrespective of taxonomic rank
the cat tribe
the rose tribe
Synonyms
Examples of tribe in a Sentence
a tribe of artists with wild hair and casual manners
the wedding joined the two tribes together
Recent Examples on the Web
The first sighting is allegedly in the Book of Exodus, which describes a breastplate worn by Aaron adorned with 12 different stones, each representing one of the 12 tribes of Israel and featuring carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, and other gems.
—
Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2024
And for no tribe of workers does the question make more sense than for book editors.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
The Arizona Republic's own Indigenous Affairs reporter and enrolled member of the Jolon Salinan tribe, Deb Krol, is quoted in the chapter, offering solidarity and community wisdom from the other side of devastating loss.
—The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024
All told, hunters killed about 1,085 bison; 88 more were shipped to slaughter and 282 were transferred to tribes.
—Jim Robbins, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Those energy resources don’t necessarily benefit tribes, however.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2024
Cherokee tribes use the more general and also seasonally appropriate term flower moon1.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2024
The Goths, a group of Germanic tribes, were famed for being fierce adversaries of the Roman Empire.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
The federal government has received separate proposals from the upper and lower basin states, tribes, environmental groups and water researchers.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2024
And for no tribe of workers does the question make more sense than for book editors.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2024
The Arizona Republic's own Indigenous Affairs reporter and enrolled member of the Jolon Salinan tribe, Deb Krol, is quoted in the chapter, offering solidarity and community wisdom from the other side of devastating loss.
—The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024
All told, hunters killed about 1,085 bison; 88 more were shipped to slaughter and 282 were transferred to tribes.
—Jim Robbins, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2024
Those energy resources don’t necessarily benefit tribes, however.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2024
Cherokee tribes use the more general and also seasonally appropriate term flower moon1.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2024
The Goths, a group of Germanic tribes, were famed for being fierce adversaries of the Roman Empire.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
The federal government has received separate proposals from the upper and lower basin states, tribes, environmental groups and water researchers.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tribe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near tribe
Cite this Entry
“Tribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribe. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tribe
noun1
: a social group made up of many families, clans, or generations that share the same language, customs, and beliefs
2
: a group of persons with a common character, occupation, or interest
3
: a group of related plants or animals
Medical Definition
tribe
noun
: a category of taxonomic classification sometimes equivalent to or ranking just below a suborder but more commonly ranking below a subfamily
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