tribunal

Everyday

1. (law) A special kind of court or group of officials who decide on a particular kind of problem, such as work disputes or tax arguments. tree →
2. (law) A court set up to judge serious crimes, such as war crimes. tree →
3. Any group with the power to judge someone. tree →

In the lessons

In adult life a worker who thinks they were sacked unfairly may take their case to an employment tribunal. In history lessons tribunals judged leaders after wars. In stories it can sound frightening: someone stands before a tribunal. Phrases: «employment tribunal», «go to a tribunal», «war crimes tribunal», «appear before a tribunal».

Examples

• Uncle Dan took his old boss to an employment tribunal. tree →
• The tribunal decided he had been dismissed unfairly. tree →
• After the war, a tribunal judged the leaders. tree →
• Three judges sat on the tribunal. tree →
• The tribunal will give its decision next week. tree →
• In the story the hero had to stand before a tribunal of elders. tree →
• For this deed, Poseidon summoned Ares to appear before the tribunal of the Olympic gods, which was held upon a hill in Athens. tree →

Note

Countable noun, stress on the second syllable: try-BYOO-nal. A tribunal is smaller and more specialised than an ordinary court. Formal word; children rarely use it.