A tribeswoman is a female member of a tribe. A tribe is a group of people who share common ancestors, customs, language, and traditions, often living together in a particular area. Tribes have existed throughout human history and still exist today in many parts of the world.

When anthropologists study how people lived thousands of years ago, they often describe tribeswomen and tribesmen working together to build communities, raise families, hunt, gather food, and create early tools and inventions. In some tribes, women might have been responsible for farming, weaving, pottery, or healing, while in others they might have been warriors, leaders, or skilled craftspeople. The roles varied enormously depending on the culture and time period.

Today, many indigenous peoples around the world still organize themselves into tribes with their own governments, languages, and ways of life. A woman who belongs to such a tribe might be called a tribeswoman, though she would probably prefer to be identified by her specific tribal affiliation, like “a member of the Navajo Nation” or “a Maasai woman.” The word tribeswoman is somewhat old-fashioned and general. It's usually more respectful and accurate to use the specific name of someone's tribe or community when you know it.