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 cultural memories of local Native American tribes go back even further.
—
Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2024
His family, members of the Achakzai tribe, blamed their longtime rivals: the Noorzai.
—Matthieu Aikins Bryan Denton, New York Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tribe 
Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 23 May 2024
His family, members of the Achakzai tribe, blamed their longtime rivals: the Noorzai.
—Matthieu Aikins Bryan Denton, New York Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for tribe
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 28 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share