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

Derived Forms

• traˈditionless, adjective
• traˈditionist, noun

Other Words From

• tra·di·tion·less adjective
• an·ti·tra·di·tion adjective
• coun·ter·tra·di·tion noun
• non·tra·di·tion noun
• pro·tra·di·tion adjective

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

Continue this new tradition of leisurely strolls filled with sniffing, socializing, and observing as life picks up again.

From Popular-Science

Although in-person challenges weren’t possible this year, Kellermann and Ferrara kept the tradition alive with a series of virtual challenges.

From MIT Technology Review

People are also finding new ways to experience old traditions.

From Science News

We begin, in fine Hot Takedown tradition, by talking about something that happened shortly after we recorded this week’s episode.

From FiveThirtyEight

There, he was further immersed in a storytelling tradition that set him up for a lifetime of bringing stories to life.

From Ozy

We've managed to survive, and I want to be a part of that tradition.

From The Daily Beast

By tradition, the speaker of the House never participates in debates in the House and remains silent.

From The Daily Beast

The tradition has lasted ever since, being seen as a great natural hangover remedy throughout the world.

From The Daily Beast

AirAsia, on the other hand, is a relatively new carrier, an upstart in the tradition of Southwest Airlines in the United States.

From The Daily Beast

Outside of Iran, Rigi's “confession” seemed like another in the long tradition of statements extracted from prisoners there.

From The Daily Beast

In every colony the "starving time," even if it had ever existed, was now no more than an ancient tradition.

From Project Gutenberg

Tradition alone preserves the memory of men and places across the ages and renders real to us what has long ceased to exist.

From Project Gutenberg

Fairmile Common is associated, in local tradition, with the following tragedy.

From Project Gutenberg

Somers related an anecdote, well worthy to be remembered, which had been preserved by tradition in the noble house of De Vere.

From Project Gutenberg

There was more than one tradition in the berserker Scotch family to bear out the truth of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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