noun
tribe
TRYBE/traɪb/
A community united by ancestry and cultural identity.
The tribe passes its language and traditions to younger generations.
Etymology
Latin tribus denoted one of early Rome’s three political or ethnic divisions. Its deeper origin is unknown; the term broadened to communities linked by descent, culture, or leadership.
In context
The aptly named Angel is also indigenous, but he's unusual because he isn't a farmer. He has set up an association to take care of the future of the Ashaninka tribe.
More examples
- Members of the tribe gather each spring to honor their ancestors.
- Several tribes work together to protect their ancestral lands.
- She learns the history of her tribe from her grandmother.
Forms
tribe · tribes
tribal adjective — Relating to a tribe or its culture.
Similar words
- clan
- Usually a smaller kinship group within a larger community.
- ethnic group
- Emphasizes shared cultural heritage without necessarily implying a unified community.