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

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported two separate Israeli strikes on two vehicles, one in the seafront town of Saadiyat and another on a coastal highway in neighboring Jiyeh, around 12 miles south of Beirut and outside Hezbollah's traditional strongholds. —Tucker Reals, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026

By nearly every traditional yardstick, the economy has been performing better than sentiment suggests — and economists have been struggling to explain the gap ever since. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026

Jasmeet’s ongoing internal battle between his traditional Canadian-Sikh family values and his life as a nationally-famous YouTuber continue to collide, in one scene ditching an event celebrating his online success and in another heading out on stage to roaring studio fans. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026

Until now, such chemicals have slipped through traditional treatment systems, ending up in groundwater and drinking supplies worldwide. —Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 14 Apr. 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