Clash Royale CLAN TAG #URR8PPP For other uses, see Tribe (disambiguation). In anthropology, a tribe is a human social group. Exact definitions of what constitutes a tribe vary among anthropologists, and the term is itself considered controversial in academic circles in part due to its association with colonialism. In general use, the term may refer to people perceived by a population to be primitive and may have negative connotations. The concept is often contrasted with other social groups concepts, such as nations, states, and forms of kinship. In some places, such as India and North America, tribes are polities that have been granted legal recognition and limited autonomy by the national or federal government. Contents 1 Etymology 2 Usage controversy 3 Tribes and nations 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External links Etymology The word tribe first occurs in English in 12th-century Middle English-literature, in reference to the twelve tribes of Israel. The Middle English w...