What does tribe mean?
Tribe names a social group whose members are united by kinship, shared ancestry, culture, or a common identity. In modern informal English, it can also mean a broader group linked by a shared interest or style, as in “a tribe of marathon runners,” while biology uses it for a formal rank between family and genus. The noun is common in both British and American English, but its tone varies: historical or anthropological uses may evoke societies organized into kin groups, whereas casual uses can sound playful, exclusive, or dismissive. The word is also occasionally used as a verb, meaning to classify or organize people into tribal groups, though that form is much less common. Overall, tribe combines a precise historical sense with a flexible modern sense, making it useful for describing both formal social divisions and informal communities bound by a shared characteristic.
A social group united by kinship, ancestry, culture, or shared identity; more broadly, a group connected by a common interest or characteristic; or, in biology, a taxonomic rank between a family and a genus.
"The tribe preserved its own language and traditions for generations."
The informal sense “a tribe of people” is especially common in British and American English and may be playful or dismissive depending on context.
To form or organize people into tribes, or to classify them as members of a particular tribe.
"The administrator tried to tribe the applicants according to their backgrounds."
This verb is uncommon and is more often encountered in specialized, historical, or figurative contexts.
The regular plural is used for multiple social groups, biological groups, or collections of people sharing a characteristic.
"Several tribes migrated across the valley over the following centuries."
The word behind “tribe” was a Roman unit of citizenship: Latin tribus originally referred to one of the three major divisions of the Roman people.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tribe come from?
The word entered English during the Middle English period through Old French tribu, from Latin tribus, a division of the Roman people. Latin tribus originally referred to a major class of Roman citizens and later to a division of a population. English derivatives such as tribal and tribalism follow this root, while the related Latin stem tribunus produced words such as tribune, tribunal, and tribunate.
Related word forms
How tribe is actually used
The word is common in both British and American English. In anthropology and historical contexts it can sound formal or dated; in modern organizational or cultural usage, expressions such as “a tribe of” are often informal and may imply an exclusive or tightly knit group. The biological sense is technical and precisely defined.
Easily confused with tribe
A clan usually emphasizes descent and kinship within a larger society, whereas a tribe can refer more broadly to a social, cultural, or identity group.
A tribe is a social or biological group, while a tribune is an official or representative, especially in ancient Rome.