traditional

[ truh-dish-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., handed down from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice:

   While in Kyoto I experienced a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

   We use only traditional, time-tested methods to make our wines.

   They gave us a book of traditional stories from the Inuit culture.

   Synonyms: established, customary, conventional

2. in accordance with customs or beliefs handed down from generation to generation:

   It is traditional in some cultures for the bride to be given away by her father.

   Synonyms: established, customary, conventional

3. designating any of various Indigenous or folk religions that do not have a primary founder, written scriptures, or buildings for public worship, and that revolve around practice, ritual, and ceremony rather than systems of doctrine or belief:

   Many of our First Peoples, especially those living on treaty lands, continue to practice traditional religion.

4. (of a person) adhering or conforming to customs, beliefs, values, etc., handed down from generation to generation; preferring what is old or long established; old-fashioned:

   My mom and dad are very traditional and often clash with modern expectations.

5. of, relating to, or characteristic of the older styles of jazz, especially New Orleans style, Chicago style, Kansas City style, and Dixieland. Compare mainstream ( def 5 ).

traditional

/ trəˌdɪʃəˈnælɪtɪ; trəˈdɪʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or being a tradition
2. of or relating to the style of jazz originating in New Orleans, characterized by collective improvisation by a front line of trumpet, trombone, and clarinet accompanied by various rhythm instruments

Derived Forms

• traditionality, noun
• traˈditionally, adverb

Other Words From

• tra·di·tion·al·i·ty [tr, uh, -dish-, uh, -, nal, -i-tee], noun
• tra·di·tion·al·ly adverb
• an·ti·tra·di·tion·al adjective
• an·ti·tra·di·tion·al·ly adverb
• non·tra·di·tion·al adjective
• non·tra·di·tion·al·ly adverb
• non·tra·di·tion·ar·y adjective
• pre·tra·di·tion·al adjective
• pro·tra·di·tion·al adjective
• qua·si-tra·di·tion·al adjective
• qua·si-tra·di·tion·al·ly adverb
• sem·i·tra·di·tion·al adjective
• sem·i·tra·di·tion·al·ly adverb
• un·tra·di·tion·al adjective
• un·tra·di·tion·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of traditional¹

First recorded in 1585–95; from Medieval Latin trāditiōnālis; equivalent to tradition + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The result is traditional Jewish food infused with rich Emirati flavors — or, as Kriel calls it, “Kosherati.”

From Ozy

The full return of live sports may further reinforce traditional TV’s viewership grip.

From Digiday

Between traditional television, video-on-demand releases, and a growing number of streaming services, it can be hard to keep up with what one should watch week to week.

From Fortune

The good news, YouTube SEO takes less time than traditional SEO does.

From Search Engine Watch

The seasonal pint of OktoBearFest Martzen is paired with traditional Oktoberfest foods including Roasted Turkey, Schnitzel and Spaetzle, a Bratwurst Sandwich and more.

From Washington Blade

Ben is not Orthodox or particularly committed to adhering to traditional Jewish laws.

From The Daily Beast

“Butter has always been a healthy part of the diet in almost every culture; butter is a traditional food,” Asprey says.

From The Daily Beast

“I happened upon yak butter tea, a traditional high-energy food eaten by Tibetans,” Asprey says.

From The Daily Beast

Asprey was inspired to swap out butter for traditional coffee creamers while on a trip to Nepal.

From The Daily Beast

In their effort to diversify their revenue, they have capitalized on traditional practices to new advantage.

From The Daily Beast

It was of course obvious that France, the traditional ally of Sweden, dominated Europe.

From Project Gutenberg

The first is the traditional method of learning by rote or endless repetition.

From Project Gutenberg

The ceremony inevitably lacked certain of the traditional accessories that strangely influenced the popular mind.

From Project Gutenberg

One traditional anecdote, and the brief history of Peter Ilich as an official is complete.

From Project Gutenberg

Other traditional accounts of them similarly speak of their long beards, though Stanley saw none answering to this description.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• classic
• classical
• common
• conventional
• historic
• long-established
• old
• popular
• regular
• time-honored
• universal