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 of traditional

• customary
• conventional
• classical
• usual
• historical

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

Rather than displacing traditional weapons manufacturers, the rise of drones and autonomous warfare is creating new business for many of the same companies. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Inside, Devarana offers a 60-minute traditional Thai oil massage followed by 30 minutes of singing bowl sound healing, combining halotherapy and chakra balancing. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026

Dhillon has drawn fierce criticism from former Justice Department attorneys who have accused her of abandoning the division's traditional civil rights enforcement mission in favor of conservative causes. — Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026

But the real secret to Hegseth’s success in imposing his agenda on the Pentagon has been the unwillingness of the current Congress to exercise its Article I responsibilities or defend its traditional prerogatives. — Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing traditional

• anti-traditional
• go/take the traditional route

Rhymes for traditional

• additional
• conditional
• nutritional
• positional
• transitional
• volitional
• compositional
• definitional
• depositional
• dispositional
• intuitional
• nontraditional

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