tradition

[truh-dish-uhn]

noun

1. 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.

2. something that is handed down.

   the traditions of the American South.

   Synonyms: usage, convention, habit, practice, custom

3. a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting.

   The rebellious students wanted to break with tradition.

4. a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices.

5. a customary or characteristic method or manner.

   The winner took a victory lap in the usual track tradition.

6. Theology.

   1. (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.

   2. (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.

   3. (among Muslims) a hadith.

7. Law.,  an act of handing over something to another, especially in a formal legal manner; delivery; transfer.

tradition

/ trəˈdɪʃən /

noun

1. the handing down from generation to generation of the same customs, beliefs, etc, esp by word of mouth

2. the body of customs, thought, practices, etc, belonging to a particular country, people, family, or institution over a relatively long period

3. a specific custom or practice of long standing

4. Christianity a doctrine or body of doctrines regarded as having been established by Christ or the apostles though not contained in Scripture

5. (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

6. the beliefs and customs of Islam supplementing the Koran, esp as embodied in the Sunna

7. law Roman law Scots law the act of formally transferring ownership of movable property; delivery

Other Word Forms

• traditionless adjective
• antitradition adjective
• countertradition noun
• nontradition noun
• protradition adjective
• traditionist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tradition¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tradition¹

C14: from Latin trāditiō a handing down, surrender, from trādere to give up, transmit, from _trans- + dāre to give

Example Sentences

"Conservatives believe in our traditions and we believe in trial by jury", she added.

Read more on BBC

Often, these traditions reach far beyond symbols of faith like Christmas trees and Hanukkah menorahs, and can be traced back to a treasured friend or a relative.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Beginning in the 1950s, Jamaica had a strong tradition of home-built stereo systems that were played outside and used for street dance parties.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When he moved out of his childhood home, he kept up the tradition.

Read more on MarketWatch

Even the culinary masters in the French tradition have embraced the idea of giving turkey that Gallic twist, which often means refashioning it into something that doesn’t quite resemble a turkey.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• belief 
• culture 
• custom 
• ethic 
• folklore 
• form 
• habit 
• heritage 
• idea 
• institution 
• law 
• legend 
• lore 
• myth 
• mythology 
• orthodoxy 
• practice 
• ritual 
• wisdom