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

• traˈditionist, noun
• traˈditionless, adjective

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

"Bringing back the Roman tradition of making sculptures of your wife," he wrote at the time.

From BBC

While not etched in law, political tradition in this country since Watergate has been for the Justice Department to operate independently of the White House.

From Los Angeles Times

"The tradition continues, partly because it's an absolutely prime time for retailers to be speaking to potential consumers," she said.

From BBC

The melancholy ad sees Gary continuing a tradition they shared, building a gingerbread house as his way to remember her.

From BBC

As the annual tradition of pre-holidays “cuffing season” begins, “I’m finding people in my generation don’t even know what that is. I’m trying to explain it to them,” she says of the dating trend.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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