tribunal

noun

tri·​bu·​nal trī-ˈbyü-nᵊl How to pronounce tribunal (audio)
tri-
Synonyms of tribunalnext
1
: a court or forum of justice
2
: something that decides or determines
the tribunal of public opinion
3
: tribune entry 2

Synonyms of tribunal

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Examples of tribunal in a Sentence

An international tribunal was formed to deal with war crimes. was tried before a military tribunal and found not guilty of the charges
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Arsenal are likely to try and strike a deal with Leicester before then, rather than face the uncertainty of going to a tribunal. — James McNicholas, New York Times, 9 June 2026 The South China Sea tribunal in 2016 in the Hague has ruled that China cannot legally occupy the shoal. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 25 June 2026 Nuremberg is where Adolf Hitler’s rallies fueled the Third Reich and where a postwar tribunal later confronted Nazi leaders over wartime atrocities. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 10 June 2026 The former Sweden youth international took her appeal to CAS after losing her initial claim at a FIFA tribunal. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tribunal

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, platform for magistrates, from tribunus tribune

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of tribunal was in the 15th century

Rhymes for tribunal

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Browse Nearby Words

tribuna
tribunal
tribunate
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Cite this Entry

“Tribunal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribunal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

tribunal

noun
tri·​bu·​nal trī-ˈbyün-ᵊl How to pronounce tribunal (audio)
trib-ˈyün-
1
: the seat of a judge
2
: a court of justice
3
: something that decides or determines
the tribunal of public opinion

Legal Definition

tribunal

noun
tri·​bu·​nal trī-ˈbyün-ᵊl, tri- How to pronounce tribunal (audio)
1
: the seat of a judge or one acting as a judge
2
: a court or forum of justice : a person or body of persons having to hear and decide disputes so as to bind the parties
Etymology

Latin, platform for magistrates, from tribunus tribune, from tribus tribe

More from Merriam-Webster on tribunal

Nglish: Translation of tribunal for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tribunal

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