# tribunal

/tɹəbˈjunəɫ/ (US) · /tɹaɪbjˈuːnəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tribunal
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. special court

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a special court or committee that makes official decisions about a specific legal problem.

For teachers: a body established to settle disputes or adjudicate on specific matters, often administrative or employment-related, rather than general criminal cases.

- The employment tribunal decided that the company had treated the worker unfairly.
- The international tribunal was convened to investigate alleged war crimes and ensure that those responsible were held accountable under international law.

Usage: Often used with 'independent' or 'administrative'; frequently takes the preposition 'on' or 'for' regarding its subject matter.

Teaching tip: In British English, this often refers to specific bodies like the 'Employment Tribunal', whereas in general English it can sound more formal or international than a standard 'court'.

### 2. seat of a judge

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

the seat or bench where a judge or group of judges sits.

For teachers: the seat or bench occupied by a judge or magistrate; by extension, the court itself.

- The judge looked down from the tribunal at the lawyers below.
- The magistrate ascended the tribunal with a gravity that silenced the restless gallery.

Usage: Primarily found in historical or highly formal legal literature.

## Examples

- The employment tribunal ruled in favor of the worker.
- After being dismissed without notice, she took her case to an industrial tribunal to seek compensation.
- The international tribunal was convened to investigate alleged war crimes, ensuring that the proceedings remained independent of any single nation's political influence.

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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.