Traditional — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /trə-ˈdi-sh(ə-)nəl/ tra·di·tion·al

Meaning & Definition of Traditional

Traditional (adjective)

  1. of or relating to tradition, consisting of or derived from tradition
  2. handed down from age to age
  3. following or conforming to tradition, adhering to past practices or established conventions

Traditional (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation

    "a traditional Passover meal at his grandparents' house"

    similar: classical, conventional, customary, prescriptive
    related: authentic, established, fixed, historical, common, habitual, orthodox, usual, ancestral, historic, old-time, old-world, aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, hoary, old, venerable, ageless, dateless, immemorial, timeless
    opposite: nontraditional, unconventional, uncustomary, untraditional
    near: contemporary, current, modern, modernized, new, new age, present-day, updated, up-to-date, futuristic, high-tech, hot, latest, mod, modernistic, newfangled, new-fashioned, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, nonconformist, nonorthodox, original, progressive, revolutionary, unorthodox, unprecedented, unusual

  2. tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions

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

    similar: archconservative, brassbound, button-down, conservative, die-hard, hidebound, mossbacked, old-fashioned, old-line, old-school, orthodox, paleoconservative, reactionary, standpat, traditionalistic, ultraconservative, unprogressive
    related: conventional, square, devoted, faithful, loyal, staunch, steadfast, steady, true, true-blue, blimpish, neoconservative, Tory, ultraright, ultrarightist, dowdy, fogyish, fuddy-duddy, ossified, set, stodgy, right, right-wing, antiliberal, antimodern, antiprogressive, antireform, antirevolutionary
    opposite: broad-minded, large-minded, liberal, nonconservative, nonconventional, nonorthodox, nontraditional, open-minded, progressive, unconventional, unorthodox
    near: anticonventional, antiestablishment, antitraditional, extremist, radical, revolutionary, nonconformist, advanced, contemporary, modern, lefty, ultraleft, ultraleftist, ultraprogressive, ultraradical

Related Entry: Tradition (noun)

Tradition is a different word from Traditional. The synonyms below are for tradition, not for traditional.

  1. an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing

    "the town tradition of having the oldest resident ride at the head of the parade"

    similar: convention, custom, heritage, prescription, rubric, rule
    related: ethic, form, mode, mores, norm, principles, standards, values, birthright, inheritance, legacy, folklore, lore, superstition, culture, lifestyle

  2. the body of customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings associated with a people, thing, or place

    "according to tradition, this field was the site of a skirmish between the first settlers and the Native Americans living in the area"

    similar: folklore, legend, legendry, lore, myth, mythology, mythos
    related: folklife, information, knowledge, wisdom, anecdote, fable, folktale, old wives' tale, tale, yarn

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Traditional

The most common words with a similar meaning to Traditional:

classical, conventional, customary, prescriptive, archconservative, brassbound, button-down, conservative, die-hard, hidebound, mossbacked, old-fashioned, old-line, old-school, orthodox, paleoconservative, reactionary, standpat, traditionalistic, ultraconservative, unprogressive

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Traditional

Words with the opposite meaning of Traditional:

nontraditional, unconventional, uncustomary, untraditional, broad-minded, large-minded, liberal, nonconservative, nonconventional, nonorthodox, open-minded, progressive, unorthodox

Related Words for Traditional

authentic, established, fixed, historical, common, habitual, usual, ancestral, historic, old-time, old-world, aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, hoary, old, venerable, ageless, dateless, immemorial, timeless, square, devoted, faithful, loyal, staunch, steadfast, steady, true

Near Antonyms of Traditional

contemporary, current, modern, modernized, new, new age, present-day, updated, up-to-date, futuristic, high-tech, hot, latest, mod, modernistic, newfangled, new-fashioned, red-hot, space-age, state-of-the-art, supermodern, ultramodern, nonconformist, original, revolutionary, unprecedented, unusual, anticonventional, antiestablishment, antitraditional

Word Forms of Traditional

Derived words: traditionally (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Traditional

First known use: 1545

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Traditional

Words & Phrases Containing Traditional

anti-traditional, go/take the traditional route

Frequently Asked Questions about Traditional

What does "Traditional" mean?

"Traditional" means of or relating to tradition, consisting of or derived from tradition. As an adjective, it is defined as: of or relating to tradition, consisting of or derived from tradition. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Traditional"?

Other words for "Traditional" include classical, conventional, customary, prescriptive, archconservative, brassbound, button-down and conservative. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Traditional" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Traditional"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Traditional". Common alternatives include classical, conventional, customary, prescriptive, archconservative, brassbound, button-down, conservative, die-hard and hidebound.

What is the opposite of "Traditional"?

Antonyms of "Traditional" include nontraditional, unconventional, uncustomary, untraditional, broad-minded, large-minded, liberal and nonconservative. Near antonyms include contemporary, current, modern and modernized.

How do you use "Traditional" in a sentence?

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".

Is "Traditional" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Traditional" is an adjective.

Is "Traditional" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Traditional" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Traditional"?

"Traditional" is pronounced /trə-ˈdi-sh(ə-)nəl/ and divided into syllables as tra·di·tion·al.