Word
tribal
Phoneticstrib·al, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɹaɪbəɫ/
UK/tɹˈaɪbəl/
Definitions
01relating to a tribe
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. relating to a group of people who share the same language, history, and customs.
adj. relating to or characteristic of a tribe or tribes as a social unit.
“The museum has a large collection of tribal masks from West Africa.”
“The researchers spent years documenting the tribal customs and oral histories of the indigenous communities in the Amazon basin.”
02group loyalty
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. showing very strong loyalty to your own group, especially in politics.
adj. characterized by strong, often unquestioning loyalty to one's own social or political group.
“Modern politics can feel very tribal when people refuse to listen to other views.”
“The rise of social media has intensified tribal divisions, making it increasingly difficult for citizens to find common ground on national issues.”
Synonyms
03design style
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. using patterns or styles that look like traditional art from indigenous people.
adj. incorporating aesthetic designs or motifs associated with indigenous or traditional cultures.
“He decided to get a tribal tattoo on his upper arm.”
“The fashion designer's latest collection features bold tribal patterns inspired by traditional textiles from the South Pacific.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
04member of a tribe
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Dialect
n. a person who belongs to a tribe.
n. a member of a tribe, particularly used in the context of the indigenous peoples of India.
“The government is working on new laws to protect the land of the tribals.”
“The conference brought together several tribals from the northeastern states to discuss the preservation of their linguistic heritage.”
Usage
Commonly used in Indian English to refer to members of Scheduled Tribes.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tribal” in context.
Verb
01. exploit tribal tensions
“The dictator sought to exploit tribal tensions to maintain his grip on power.”
verb + adj + noun
02. transcend tribal divisions
“The new leader hoped to transcend tribal divisions and unite the country.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. deeply tribal
“Modern politics has become deeply tribal, with little room for compromise.”
adv + adj
04. increasingly tribal
“Social media discourse is becoming increasingly tribal and polarized.”
adv + adj
Noun
05. tribal affiliation
“Voters often choose candidates based on tribal affiliation rather than policy.”
adj + noun
06. tribal elder
“The community sought advice from a tribal elder to resolve the conflict.”
adj + noun
07. tribal loyalty
“In many regions, tribal loyalty often takes precedence over national identity.”
adj + noun
08. tribal warfare
“The region has been plagued by tribal warfare for decades due to land disputes.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Kirkham says younger fans are actually "less rigid or tribal than they used to be" and boast a "more encyclopaedic knowledge" developed through video games - including EA Sports FC or Football Manager.” “McEvoy documented the last years of the fiercely tribal nature of British youth culture before it was flattened out by the internet, as streaming homogenised music tastes.” “Faded tribal hand-painted art runs along the walls, its colours worn thin by rain and time.” Etymology
From Latin tribālis. By surface analysis, tribe + -al, first attested in the 1630s. The specific adjectival sense under the defunct theory of recapitulation derives from tribal history as an overly literal learned borrowing from German Stammesgeschichte; ordinarily, Stamm would only be translated as tribe when used in its ethnographic sense.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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