tribune

1 of 2

noun (1)

tri·​bune ˈtri-ˌbyün How to pronounce tribune (audio)
tri-ˈbyün
1
: a Roman official under the monarchy and the republic with the function of protecting the plebeian citizen from arbitrary action by the patrician magistrates
2
: an unofficial defender of the rights of the individual
tribuneship
ˈtri-ˌbyün-ˌship How to pronounce tribune (audio)
tri-ˈbyün-
noun

tribune

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a dais or platform from which an assembly is addressed

Examples of tribune in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And therein might lie the answer with Dragic and those worthy of tribute from the Heat’s 36 seasons, if not necessary tribune in the rafters. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2024 The team mapped and measured all those that were accessible, totaling roughly 170 staples for the upper walls and 100 for the tribunes. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024 Namely, Joe Biden is just too old to be a tribune of the young progressive Left. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 19 Jan. 2024 Enlarge / The 2019 fire exposed iron staples in the top walls, inside a column in the nave, and in the tribunes of the choir. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024 But are you troubled by Elon Musk as a tribune for the cause? David Remnick, The New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2023 For exclusive details about the first 24 hours and more visit chicago tribune dot com forward slash Tylenol murders. Chicago Tribune, 22 Sep. 2022 Even the former Vice-President Mike Pence, that noted tribune of the working class, has keyed in on the hefty subsidies for the purchase of E.V.s that Democrats provided in last year’s Inflation Reduction Act. John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2023 For its part, USA Gymnastics blamed a lack of space in the media tribune for denying Reid’s credential request. Christine Brennan, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tribune.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Latin tribunus, from tribus tribe

Noun (2)

French, from Italian tribuna, from Latin tribunal

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1771, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tribune was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near tribune

Cite this Entry

“Tribune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribune. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tribune

noun
tri·​bune
ˈtrib-ˌyün,
trib-ˈyün
1
: a Roman official who protected plebeian citizens from unjust action by patrician magistrates
2
: a defender of the people especially against injustice
tribuneship
-ˌship
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on tribune

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