noun

tribunal

/trɪˈbjuːnəl/ · say it: trih·BYOO·nul

a body established to settle particular kinds of disputes

In Law & Justice

In more detail

1. (noun) a court of law or a group of judges who make official decisions about disputes or legal matters

2. (noun) an official group appointed to examine complaints or investigate a particular issue

Examples

1. The case was heard before an international tribunal.
2. An employment tribunal investigated the unfair dismissal complaint.

How to use tribunal

Tribunal refers to a specialized court or official group that handles specific types of disputes, complaints, or investigations, often outside the regular court system. It is more formal and narrower in scope than a general court, commonly used in labor disputes, immigration cases, and public inquiries. The term emphasizes investigation and adjudication rather than criminal prosecution.

Common phrases

industrial tribunal
tribunal hearing
appear before a tribunal
tribunal decision
appeals tribunal
international tribunal

Synonyms

court · bench · panel · board · commission

Word family

tribunals (plural)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse tribunal with court; while related, a tribunal is typically a specialized body handling particular categories of cases, whereas a court is a broader judicial institution.

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