tribunal
try-BYOO-nuhl
/traɪˈbjuː.nəl/
A court of justice or a body appointed to adjudicate on particular matters.
Often implies a specialized or temporary judicial body created for a specific war crime or administrative dispute.
The story behind the word. In ancient Rome, a 'tribunus' was an elected magistrate who defended common citizens against aristocratic overreach. Roman judges sat upon an elevated wooden platform called a 'tribunal' so that all citizens could observe justice being administered fairly in public view.
Word relationships
- court: A court is a permanent judicial institution, while a tribunal can be temporary or focused on specialized administrative law.
Commonly confused with
- hearing: A hearing is a proceeding, whereas a tribunal is the official body or panel conducting it.
Word family
- tribune (noun): An official in ancient Rome chosen by the plebeians to protect their interests.
Collocations
- war crimes tribunal
- international tribunal
- appear before a tribunal
Example sentences
- "The international tribunal was established to try individuals responsible for human rights violations." International Law
Memory hook
A TRIBUNAL has TRI- (three) judges sitting on a platform to bring justice. Specialized judicial court.
When not to use
Not suitable for ordinary daily civil trials unless referring to specific administrative boards.
Fun facts
- The Nuremberg Trials after WWII established the modern precedent for ad-hoc international criminal tribunals.
Related words
Explore more words
adjudicate, arbitrate, litigation, adversary, trial, judiciary
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