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Tribunal

try-BYOO-nuhl /traɪˈbjuːnəl/

nounC1GRELSAT

formallegalacademic

A court of justice or other body established to arbitrate in certain disputes, often with a specialized jurisdiction or temporary nature, such as an international war crimes tribunal.

While similar to a court, a tribunal often has a more specific mandate, may operate with less formal procedures, or might be established for a particular purpose or conflict.

The story behind the word. The word 'tribunal' comes from the Latin tribunal, which referred to a raised platform where a tribunus (tribune), a Roman magistrate or official, sat to administer justice. The tribune was originally the chief of a tribe. So, a 'tribunal' is literally the 'seat of a tribune', evolving to mean a court or a body with judicial authority.

Word relationships

court: Broader, 'tribunal' often implies a specialized or temporary court.
panel: Can refer to a group of judges, but 'tribunal' implies a more formal, authoritative body with a specific legal mandate.

Collocations

international tribunal
war crimes tribunal
ad hoc tribunal
military tribunal

Example sentences

"The International Criminal `Tribunal` for the former Yugoslavia was established to prosecute war crimes." After the conflict, a special court was set up to address the crimes committed. (Historical Record)
"An employment `Tribunal` ruled in favor of the employee, citing unfair dismissal." Many countries have administrative bodies that resolve specific types of disputes.
"The appeals `Tribunal` upheld the original verdict, confirming the defendant's guilt." The decision of such a body carries significant legal weight.

Memory hook

A `Tribunal` is like a 'TRI-bune' (a judge) sitting on a special platform to make decisions. Judge's platform

When not to use

Do not use 'tribunal' for informal discussions or debates; it refers to a formal body with judicial or quasi-judicial authority.

Fun facts

The most famous international tribunals are the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent tribunal, unlike the ad hoc (temporary) tribunals established for specific conflicts.

Explore more words

adjudicate, arbitrate, litigation, adversary, trial, judiciary

Also appears in

Law → Human Rights & Social Justice