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

Other Word Forms

• traditionless adjective
• antitradition adjective
• countertradition noun
• nontradition noun
• protradition adjective
• traditionist noun

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

Statesboro was a world away from Los Angeles, but when Helton first arrived at Georgia Southern, the school’s deep sense of tradition reminded him of his previous stop.

From Los Angeles Times

Her most famous role was to present the trophies at Wimbledon, where - it was reported - she was instrumental in ending the tradition of players bowing and curtsying when passing the royal box.

From BBC

Born in a pre-war era of rigid traditions and styles, his creations followed - and helped make possible - increasing social fluidity in the latter half of the 20th Century.

From BBC

This is especially true for converts, who tend to be more zealous than people who are born into a given religion or faith tradition.

From Salon

The Brennan Center for Justice describes the law as “an American tradition that sees military interference in civilian affairs as a threat to both democracy and personal liberty.”

From Salon

Related Words

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