traditional

adjective

tra·​di·​tion·​al trə-ˈdi-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of or relating to tradition : consisting of or derived from tradition

a traditional celebration

2

: handed down from age to age

traditional history

traditional songs/stories

3

: following or conforming to tradition : adhering to past practices or established conventions

traditional morality

traditional values/beliefs

employing traditional methods of cooking

traditionally adverb

a dish traditionally made with egg yolks, cream, and sugar

a seating area traditionally reserved for the church's leaders

Synonyms

• classical
• conventional
• customary
• prescriptive

Examples of traditional in a Sentence

a traditional Passover meal at his grandparents' house

a family that is very traditional when it comes to institutions like marriage

Recent Examples on the Web

Evasive techniques: The use of PDF-based phishing bypasses traditional URL scanning and exploits user trust in business documents. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

Valorie Wilmore: Gallatin High School Valorie Wilmore is a very imaginative artist who works with digital art and traditional media, school officials said, as a student at Gallatin High School, part of the Sumner County School District in Gallatin. —Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Before that, though, HTS relied on traditional militant fundraising methods: extortion, kidnapping and oil-smuggling. —Lauren Frayer, NPR, 20 Dec. 2024

Society has become more aware of the challenges seniors face, such as isolation and the burden of aging in traditional housing. —Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing traditional

• anti-traditional
• go/take the traditional route

Kids Definition

traditional

adjective

tra·​di·​tion·​al

trə-ˈdish-nəl,

-ən-ᵊl

1

: handed down from age to age without writing

2

: based on custom

our traditional Thanksgiving dinner

traditionally

-ē

adverb