traditional

[ truh-dish-uh-nl ]
See synonyms for: traditionaltraditionally on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. of or relating to beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., handed down from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice: While in Kyoto I experienced a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.We use only traditional, time-tested methods to make our wines.They gave us a book of traditional stories from the Inuit culture.

  2. in accordance with customs or beliefs handed down from generation to generation: It is traditional in some cultures for the bride to be given away by her father.

  1. designating any of various Indigenous or folk religions that do not have a primary founder, written scriptures, or buildings for public worship, and that revolve around practice, ritual, and ceremony rather than systems of doctrine or belief: Many of our First Peoples, especially those living on treaty lands, continue to practice traditional religion.

  2. (of a person) adhering or conforming to customs, beliefs, values, etc., handed down from generation to generation; preferring what is old or long established; old-fashioned: My mom and dad are very traditional and often clash with modern expectations.

  3. of, relating to, or characteristic of the older styles of jazz, especially New Orleans style, Chicago style, Kansas City style, and Dixieland.: Compare mainstream (def. 5).

Origin of traditional

1
First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin trāditiōnālis; equivalent to tradition + -al1
  • Also tra·di·tion·ar·y [truh-dish-uh-ner-ee] /trəˈdɪʃ əˌnɛr i/ (for defs. 1, 2).

Other words for traditional

Other words from traditional

  • tra·di·tion·al·i·ty [truh-dish-uh-nal-i-tee], /trəˌdɪʃ əˈnæl ɪ ti/, noun
  • tra·di·tion·al·ly, adverb
  • an·ti·tra·di·tion·al, adjective
  • an·ti·tra·di·tion·al·ly, adverb
  • non·tra·di·tion·al, adjective
  • non·tra·di·tion·al·ly, adverb
  • non·tra·di·tion·ar·y, adjective
  • pre·tra·di·tion·al, adjective
  • pro·tra·di·tion·al, adjective
  • qua·si-tra·di·tion·al, adjective
  • qua·si-tra·di·tion·al·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·tra·di·tion·al, adjective
  • sem·i·tra·di·tion·al·ly, adverb
  • un·tra·di·tion·al, adjective
  • un·tra·di·tion·al·ly, adverb

Words Nearby traditional

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use traditional in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for traditional

traditional

/ (trəˈdɪʃənəl) /


adjective
  1. of, relating to, or being a tradition

  2. of or relating to the style of jazz originating in New Orleans, characterized by collective improvisation by a front line of trumpet, trombone, and clarinet accompanied by various rhythm instruments

Derived forms of traditional

  • traditionality (trəˌdɪʃəˈnælɪtɪ), noun
  • traditionally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012