# tributary

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɹɪbjʊtəɹi/ · frequency rank #24,034

## Definitions
1. A natural water stream that flows into a larger river or other body of water.
2. A vein which drains into another vein.
3. A nation, state, or other entity that pays tribute.

## Etymology
PIE word
 *tréyes
From Middle English tributarie (“paying tribute”), from Latin tribūtārius, from tribūtum (“tribute”).

## Common misspellings (14)
`rtibutary`, `tirbutary`, `trbiutary`, `tribbutary`, `tribtuary`, `tribuatry`, `tributarry`, `tributaryy`, `tributayr`, `tributray`, `tributtary`, `triubtary`, `trributary`, `ttributary`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tributary