tribe
An ethnic group larger than a band or clan (and which may contain clans) but smaller than a nation (and which in turn may constitute a nation with other tribes). The tribe is often the basis of ethnic identity.
Example
“the Twelve Tribes of Israel; Germanic tribes; Celtic tribes”
Other meanings
A tribal nation or people.
A socially cohesive group of people within a society.
“She found her tribe among fellow cross-stitchers.”
Synonyms
- folk
Related words
- hilltribe
- intertribe
- subtribe
- supertribe
- tribality
- tribeless
- tribelike
- tribemate
- tribeship
- tribesman
- tribespeople
- tribesperson
Word history
From Latin "tribus".
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “tribe” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.