Definition

Adjective: 1. Relating to or characteristic of a tribe: Pertaining to the social organization, culture, traditions, or identity of a tribe. 2. Denoting a strong sense of loyalty to a group: Used to describe a powerful feeling of unity and shared identity within a specific social group, often implying an "us versus them" mentality.

Usage

The adjective "tribal" is used to describe anything connected to the customs, structures, or identity of a tribe. It can describe physical objects, social practices, or abstract concepts like loyalty. - It typically precedes a noun (e.g., tribal leader, tribal land). - It can be used in both anthropological contexts (referring to actual indigenous groups) and modern metaphorical contexts (referring to any strongly unified group).

Examples

• Anthropological Context:
  • The museum has a collection of tribal masks from across Africa.
  • They are fighting for the recognition of their tribal sovereignty.
• Modern/Metaphorical Context:
  • The company's culture fostered a strong tribal loyalty among its employees.
  • Politics can often descend into tribal warfare, where party allegiance overrides policy.

Advanced Usage

• "Tribal knowledge": Refers to information and know-how that is known within a specific group but is not formally documented or shared externally.
  • The repair process relied on the mechanic's tribal knowledge, passed down through apprentices.
• "Tribal markings": Can refer literally to body modifications or symbols used by a tribe, or metaphorically to any identifiers of group membership.
  • The gang's tattoos served as modern tribal markings.

Variants and Related Words

• Tribe (n): A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties.
• Tribalism (n): 1. The state or fact of being organized in a tribe or tribes. 2. Strong loyalty to one's own tribe or social group, often leading to conflict with other groups.
  • The tribalism in online forums makes constructive debate difficult.
• Tribally (adv): In a manner relating to a tribe or tribes.
  • The land is owned tribally, not by individuals.

Synonyms

• Clannish: Showing loyalty to a group (often with a negative connotation of exclusivity).
• Indigenous: Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place (can overlap when referring to native tribal peoples).
• Ancestral: Of or belonging to inherited from ancestors (can relate to tribal heritage).

Antonyms

• Cosmopolitan: Familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures.
• Assimilated: Having been absorbed and integrated into a wider culture or society.
• Individualistic: Prioritizing individual freedom and independence over group identity.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Tribal elder": A respected senior figure within a tribe or group, often seen as a source of wisdom and authority.
  • The decision was referred to the tribal elders.
• "Go tribal": (Informal) To revert to a state of strong, often irrational, group loyalty and conflict.
  • Whenever that topic is debated online, people just go tribal and stop listening.

Adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of a tribe
   • tribal customs