noun · verb · 11 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈtɹɪbjuːt/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:T R IH1 B Y UW0 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
An acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Please accept this as a tribute of our thanks.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: testimonial
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift.
An homage made in a body of work to another work or creator.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Did you catch the Up in Smoke tribute in that episode of That '70s Show?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: testimonial
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A payment made by one nation to another in submission.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The Ancient Romans made their conquered countries pay tribute.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Extortion; protection money.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
A payment made by a feudal vassal to his lord.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
A certain proportion of the mined ore, or of its value, given to the miner as payment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: business, mining
Examples
1852-1866, Charles Tomlinson, Cyclopaedia of Useful Arts and Manufactures Tut-work is also employed upon the lode itself, though from the advantages generally considered to arise from the tribute system [...]
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
noun
Meaning 7
Ellipsis of cum tribute.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To pay as tribute.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
payment extorted by gangsters on threat of violence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
every store in the neighborhood had to pay him protection
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: protection
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: extortion
10
noun
Meaning 10
payment by one nation for protection by another
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: payment, defrayal, defrayment
11
noun
Meaning 11
something given or done as an expression of esteem
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: testimonial
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: approval, commendation
History
Etymology
PIE word *tréyes From Middle English tribut (14th c.), from Middle French tribut, from Latin tributum (“tribute”, literally “a thing contributed or paid”), past participle of tribuere (“to assign, allot”), usually derived from tribus (“tribe”, which see).
Across languages
Translations
104 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Assamese:
শ্ৰদ্ধাঞ্জলি
(sroddhañzoli)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Belarusian:
дані́на
(danína)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Belarusian:
нале́жнае
(naljéžnaje)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Bulgarian:
дан
(dan)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Bulgarian:
дължи́мо
(dǎlžímo)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Catalan:
tribut
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Catalan:
homenatge
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Czech:
hold
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Czech:
úcta
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Finnish:
kunnianosoitus
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
French:
hommage
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
French:
tribut
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
German:
Tribut
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Hindi:
श्रद्धांजलि
(śraddhāñjli)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Irish:
ómós
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Italian:
omaggio
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Japanese:
オマージュ
(omāju)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Latin:
tribūtum
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Māori:
whakamānawatanga
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Old English:
gombe
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Polish:
wyrazy uznania
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Polish:
hołd
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Portuguese:
homenagem
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Russian:
дань
(danʹ)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Russian:
до́лжное
(dólžnoje)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Serbo-Croatian:
да̏нак
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Serbo-Croatian:
dȁnak
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Slovak:
hold
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Slovak:
pocta
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Spanish:
tributo
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Spanish:
homenaje
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Ukrainian:
дани́на
(danýna)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Ukrainian:
нале́жне
(naléžne)
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Welsh:
teyrnged
— acknowledgment of gratitude, respect or admiration; an accompanying gift
Arabic:
جِزْيَة
(jizya)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Azerbaijani:
təzminat
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Belarusian:
дані́на
(danína)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Belarusian:
по́даць
(pódacʹ)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Belarusian:
дань
(danʹ)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Bulgarian:
да́нък
(dánǎk)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Bulgarian:
дан
(dan)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Catalan:
tribut
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Chinese Mandarin:
貢品 /贡品
(gòngpǐn)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Chinese Mandarin:
朝貢 /朝贡
(cháogòng)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Czech:
daň
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Egyptian:
bA-k:H_SPACE-Y1:Z2
(bꜣkw)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Finnish:
pakkovero
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Finnish:
tribuutti
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Finnish:
suojeluraha
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
French:
tribut
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Georgian:
ხარკი
(xarḳi)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
German:
Tribut
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Gothic:
𐌲𐌹𐌻𐍃𐍄𐍂
(gilstr)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Gothic:
𐌲𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌿𐍂
(gabaur)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Greek:
φόρος υποτέλειας
(fóros ypotéleias)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Ancient Greek:
φόρος
(phóros)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Indonesian:
upeti
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Italian:
tributo
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Japanese:
貢ぎ物
(mitsugimono)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Japanese:
貢ぎ
(mitsugi)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Japanese:
朝貢
(chōkō)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Korean:
조공
(jogong)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Latin:
stipendium
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Malay:
ufti
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Old English:
gafol
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Persian:
باج
(bâj)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Persian:
ساو
(sâv)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Polish:
danina
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Polish:
trybut
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Portuguese:
tributo
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Russian:
дань
(danʹ)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Russian:
по́дать
(pódatʹ)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Slovak:
daň
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Spanish:
parias
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Spanish:
tributo
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Spanish:
mita
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Swahili:
kodi
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Ukrainian:
дани́на
(danýna)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Ukrainian:
по́дать
(pódatʹ)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Ukrainian:
пода́ток
(podátok)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Ukrainian:
дань
(danʹ)
— payment made by one nation to another in submission
Vietnamese:
triều cống
— payment made by one nation to another in submission