tribunal

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablelegal

   A group of officials appointed to hear a particular kind of dispute and decide it, often outside the regular courts.

   Grammar: Takes a singular or plural verb in British English: the tribunal has / have decided.

   Patterns

   • take a case to a tribunal
   • a tribunal ruling
   • appear before a tribunal

   She took her employer to an employment tribunal after being dismissed.

   The tribunal ruled that the landlord must refund the deposit.

   Both sides appeared before the tribunal on Monday.

2. 2nouncountablelegal

   An international court set up to try people for serious crimes such as war crimes.

   Grammar: Often named with a place or purpose: a war crimes tribunal.

   Patterns

   • a war crimes tribunal
   • an international tribunal

   Leaders were put on trial before an international tribunal.

   The tribunal in The Hague heard evidence for several years.

   Witnesses described the events to the tribunal.

3. 3nounsingularfigurativeliterary

   Anything that is thought to judge or test something, such as public opinion.

   Grammar: Used figuratively, often with of: the tribunal of public opinion.

   Patterns

   • the tribunal of public opinion

   He feared the tribunal of public opinion more than any court.

   History is the final tribunal for leaders' decisions.

   She stood before the tribunal of her own conscience.

Word forms

Common combinations

employment tribunal

The employment tribunal awarded her compensation.

war crimes tribunal

The war crimes tribunal indicted the general.

appeal to a tribunal

You can appeal to a tribunal if the decision seems unfair.

tribunal hearing

The tribunal hearing lasted three days.

military tribunal

He was tried before a military tribunal.

Synonyms and how they differ

court

Court is the ordinary, general word, while a tribunal usually deals with one area of law and is often less formal.

panel

Panel can be any group of people who judge or discuss, with no legal power implied.

board

Board often means a group that manages or reviews, whereas a tribunal makes legal decisions.

bench

Bench refers to judges or magistrates collectively and is more about the people than the body.

Word family

tribune noun

an official chosen to protect people's rights in ancient Rome

tribunals noun

plural form, more than one such body

tribute noun

an act showing respect, a separate word with related Latin roots

Commonly confused: tribunal or tribune? tribunal or tribute?

Practice

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