# tribe

/ˈtɹaɪb/ (US) · /tɹˈaɪb/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tribe
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. ethnic/historical group

noun · CEFR B2

a group of people, often living in a specific area, who share the same language, ancestors, and customs.

For teachers: a social group comprising numerous families, clans, or generations together with slaves, dependents, or adopted strangers.

- The anthropologist spent three years living with a nomadic tribe in the desert.
- Historical accounts describe how various tribes formed a loose confederation to defend their shared ancestral territories against colonial expansion.

### 2. social group of friends

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a group of people who spend a lot of time together because they share the same interests or lifestyle.

For teachers: a socially cohesive group of people within a larger society, often defined by shared values or subcultural interests.

- She finally found her tribe when she joined the local hiking club.
- In the digital age, many individuals find their tribe through online forums dedicated to niche hobbies or specific political ideologies.

### 3. biological classification

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a group used to classify living things that is smaller than a family but larger than a genus.

For teachers: a taxonomic category that ranks above genus and below family or subfamily.

- In biology class, we learned that this plant belongs to a specific tribe within the rose family.
- The researcher proposed a reclassification of the species based on genetic markers that suggested a different placement within the tribe.

### 4. group of animals

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a group of certain animals, especially apes, that live and work together.

For teachers: a collective group of animals, particularly primates, exhibiting social structure and cooperation.

- The documentary showed how the tribe of chimpanzees hunted together in the forest.
- Observations of the tribe revealed a complex social hierarchy where grooming played a vital role in maintaining alliances between males.

## Examples

- The local tribe has lived in this valley for centuries.
- The festival attracted a whole tribe of music lovers who camped together in the fields.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.