tradition
Americannoun
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the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice.
a story that has come down to us by popular tradition.
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something that is handed down.
the traditions of the American South.
- Synonyms:
- usage, convention, habit, practice, custom
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a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting.
The rebellious students wanted to break with tradition.
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a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices.
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a customary or characteristic method or manner.
The winner took a victory lap in the usual track tradition.
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Theology.
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(among Jews) body of laws and doctrines, or any one of them, held to have been received from Moses and originally handed down orally from generation to generation.
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(among Christians) a body of teachings, or any one of them, held to have been delivered by Christ and His apostles but not originally committed to writing.
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(among Muslims) a hadith.
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Law. an act of handing over something to another, especially in a formal legal manner; delivery; transfer.
noun
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the handing down from generation to generation of the same customs, beliefs, etc, esp by word of mouth
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the body of customs, thought, practices, etc, belonging to a particular country, people, family, or institution over a relatively long period
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a specific custom or practice of long standing
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Christianity a doctrine or body of doctrines regarded as having been established by Christ or the apostles though not contained in Scripture
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(often capital) Judaism a body of laws regarded as having been handed down from Moses orally and only committed to writing in the 2nd century ad
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the beliefs and customs of Islam supplementing the Koran, esp as embodied in the Sunna
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law Roman law Scots law the act of formally transferring ownership of movable property; delivery
Other Word Forms
- antitradition adjective
- countertradition noun
- nontradition noun
- protradition adjective
- traditionist noun
- traditionless adjective
Etymology
Origin of tradition
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English tradicion, from Old French, from Latin trāditiōn- (stem of trāditiō ) “a handing over or down, transfer,” equivalent to trādit(us), past participle of trādere “to give over, impart, surrender, betray” ( trā-, variant of trāns- trans- + -ditus, combining form of datus “given”; date 1 ) + -iōn- -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the heart of this tradition was one of Britain's oldest breeds, the Norfolk Black, which was nearly lost to history until one farming family stepped in to save it.
From BBC
Westminster Abbey was also the venue for the King's recent Advent service, where there were prayers and music from different Christian traditions, including Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox.
From BBC
In Victorian times, the telling, or reading, of ghost stories was a Christmas tradition; the most enduring Yule-time tale — Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” written in 1843 — is first and foremost a ghost story.
From Los Angeles Times
Even the most venerable of traditions is subject to adjustments.
From Los Angeles Times
If time, location or affordability are keeping you from seeing the ballet, a bold new production of ‘Nutcracker’ premiering Tuesday on ‘Great Performances’ is a way to keep the tradition.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
