traditional

Also tra·di·tion·ar·y

[truh-dish-uh-nl]

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.

   Synonyms: established, customary, conventional

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.

   Synonyms: established, customary, conventional

3. 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.

4. (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.

5. of, relating to, or characteristic of the older styles of jazz, especially New Orleans style, Chicago style, Kansas City style, and Dixieland.

traditional

/ trəˌdɪʃəˈnælɪtɪ, 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

Other Word Forms

• traditionality noun
• traditionally adverb
• antitraditional adjective
• antitraditionally adverb
• nontraditional adjective
• nontraditionally adverb
• nontraditionary adjective
• pretraditional adjective
• protraditional adjective
• quasi-traditional adjective
• quasi-traditionally adverb
• semitraditional adjective
• semitraditionally adverb
• untraditional adjective
• untraditionally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of traditional¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin trāditiōnālis; equivalent to tradition + -al ¹

Example Sentences

It is no accident that the most nominated songs on “DTMF” nominated for awards are those with live instrumentation and more “traditional” sounds like salsa, while the reggaetón producers who helped create them are not.

From Los Angeles Times

There was a shift to rugby's traditional hotbeds for the knockout stages, delivering the biggest crowds for the biggest matches.

From BBC

The memorial service celebrated Charlie Kirk's Christianity and promised a new enthusiasm among young Americans for traditional values with an evangelical fervour.

From BBC

He is still one of the top players in golf, good enough to be a player on this year’s team, but chose not to choose himself and will be a traditional non-playing captain.

From Los Angeles Times

They seem to view such tragedies as a price to pay to uphold a right-wing values system that is obsessed with ideas of purity and traditional gender roles.

From Salon

Related Words

• classic 
• classical 
• common 
• conventional 
• historic 
• long-established www.thesaurus.com
• old 
• popular 
• regular 
• time-honored 
• universal