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Synonyms

traditionalism

American  
[truh-dish-uh-nl-iz-uhm] / trəˈdɪʃ ə nlˌɪz əm /

noun

  1. adherence to tradition as authority, especially in matters of religion.

  2. a system of philosophy according to which all knowledge of religious truth is derived from divine revelation and received by traditional instruction.


traditionalism British  
/ trəˈdɪʃənəˌlɪzəm /

noun

  1. the doctrine that all knowledge originates in divine revelation and is perpetuated by tradition

  2. adherence to tradition, esp in religion

"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

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of traditionalism

First recorded in 1855–60; traditional + -ism


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.

See Examples For:

Fusionists were conservatives, but their traditionalism had little in common with the vision of ultraconservatives who opposed the values of the modern world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

He was also striving to break away from the box of traditionalism and open up the floor to more unique expressions, and I didn’t know that, of course, as a kid.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2024

These efforts to make women responsible for men’s bad acts are as old as Adam, Eve, and the apple, and are a perverse sort of marital traditionalism.

From Slate ● Jun. 1, 2024

The 16th-century town of San Martín, where the park has its offices, is home to a singular cattle-centric culture, and to a staunch traditionalism.

From New York Times ● Jan. 16, 2024

This list is particularly heavy on the Hebrew, with a noticeable trend toward Irish traditionalism.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt

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