tradition

[ truh-dish-uhn ]

/ trəˈdɪʃ ən /

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See synonyms for: tradition / traditions on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

something that is handed down: the traditions of the American South.

a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting: The rebellious students wanted to break with tradition.

a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices.

a customary or characteristic method or manner: The winner took a victory lap in the usual track tradition.

Theology.

(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.
(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.
(among Muslims) a hadith.

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

OTHER WORDS FOR tradition

2 custom, practice, habit, convention, usage.

See synonyms for tradition on Thesaurus.com

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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”; see date¹) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM tradition

tra·di·tion·less, adjectivean·ti·tra·di·tion, adjectivecoun·ter·tra·di·tion, nounnon·tra·di·tion, noun

pro·tra·di·tion, adjective

Words nearby tradition

trading card, trading estate, trading floor, trading post, trading stamp, tradition, traditional, traditionalism, traditionalize, traditional logic, traditional marriage

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tradition in a sentence

Continue this new tradition of leisurely strolls filled with sniffing, socializing, and observing as life picks up again.
How to help your pet with separation anxiety|Sara Kiley Watson|August 26, 2020|Popular-Science
Although in-person challenges weren’t possible this year, Kellermann and Ferrara kept the tradition alive with a series of virtual challenges.
Virtual Tech Challenge|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
People are also finding new ways to experience old traditions.
Why do we miss the rituals put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic?|Sujata Gupta|August 14, 2020|Science News
We begin, in fine Hot Takedown tradition, by talking about something that happened shortly after we recorded this week’s episode.
The College Football Layoff|Sarah Shachat|August 11, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

There, he was further immersed in a storytelling tradition that set him up for a lifetime of bringing stories to life.
David Oyelowo’s History of Dangerous Love|Eromo Egbejule|August 11, 2020|Ozy
We've managed to survive, and I want to be a part of that tradition.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
By tradition, the speaker of the House never participates in debates in the House and remains silent.
The YOLO Caucus' New Cry for Attention|Ben Jacobs|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The tradition has lasted ever since, being seen as a great natural hangover remedy throughout the world.
History's Craziest Hangover Cures|Justin Jones|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
AirAsia, on the other hand, is a relatively new carrier, an upstart in the tradition of Southwest Airlines in the United States.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Outside of Iran, Rigi's “confession” seemed like another in the long tradition of statements extracted from prisoners there.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan|Umar Farooq|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In every colony the "starving time," even if it had ever existed, was now no more than an ancient tradition.
The Eve of the Revolution|Carl Becker
Tradition alone preserves the memory of men and places across the ages and renders real to us what has long ceased to exist.
Honey-Bee|Anatole France
Fairmile Common is associated, in local tradition, with the following tragedy.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
Somers related an anecdote, well worthy to be remembered, which had been preserved by tradition in the noble house of De Vere.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
There was more than one tradition in the berserker Scotch family to bear out the truth of it.
The Weight of the Crown|Fred M. White

British Dictionary definitions for tradition

tradition

/ (trəˈdɪʃən) /

noun

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

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

a specific custom or practice of long standing

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

(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

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

law, mainly Roman law Scots law the act of formally transferring ownership of movable property; delivery

Derived forms of tradition

traditionless, adjectivetraditionist, noun

Word Origin for tradition

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

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

tradition

OTHER WORDS FOR tradition

Origin of tradition

OTHER WORDS FROM tradition

Words nearby tradition

Words related to tradition

How to use tradition in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tradition

Derived forms of tradition

Word Origin for tradition