an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
"The international tribunal convened to judge the war crimes case was composed of five impartial judges from different nations."
An assembly including one or more judges to conduct judicial business; a court of law.
"The international tribunal convened yesterday to hear evidence from both sides in the dispute over maritime boundaries."
In plain English: A tribunal is an official group of people that hears legal cases and makes decisions about disputes.
"The international tribunal heard evidence from witnesses before delivering its final verdict on the conflict in Ukraine."
Usage: Use tribunal specifically when referring to an official body with the power to hear cases and issue judgments, rather than general courts like supreme or district courts which handle broader legal matters. This term often appears in contexts involving specialized jurisdictions such as labor disputes, immigration hearings, or international arbitration panels.
The English word tribunal comes from the Old French term of the same name, which was borrowed directly from Latin. In its original usage, it referred to a seat or bench used by judges in ancient Rome, derived ultimately from the root for "tribe."