Synonyms for

Tradition

Verb / trʌˈdɪʃʌn / Another word for tradition — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a belief, custom, or way of doing something that has existed for a long time within a particular group of people

Synonyms & similar words

custom custom ritual practice routine convention ceremony heritage legacy folklore lore myth mythology belief culture way use habit praxis observance rule

Synonyms by register

Formal

custom practice convention heritage

Informal

way habit routine thing

Literary

lore legacy observance

Antonyms

novelty innovation modernity change progress unorthodoxy

Common collocations

  • cultural tradition
  • family tradition
  • religious tradition
  • oral tradition
  • follow tradition
  • break tradition
  • uphold tradition
  • ancient tradition

Word family

noun tradition
verb traditionalize
adjective traditional
adverb traditionally

Usage note

Tradition refers to beliefs or behaviors passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning, often with origins in the past. It can sometimes imply resistance to change.

Example sentences

  1. It's a tradition to sing 'Happy Birthday' before blowing out the candles.
  2. We follow the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree every year.
  3. In our culture, it's a tradition to wear red on Chinese New Year.
  4. The bride and groom adhered to the tradition of having a white wedding.
  5. The family tradition is to take a vacation together every summer.

Quotes

  • Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. - Gustav Mahler
  • The tradition of all the dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brain of the living. - Karl Marx
  • Tradition is the illusion of permanence. - Woody Allen

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