What does tradition mean?
Tradition refers to customs, beliefs, practices, and ways of life that are inherited or preserved across generations. In ordinary use, the word often describes something valued because it connects present-day life with earlier generations, such as a family celebration, a religious ritual, or a community craft. It can also denote the broader transmission of customs and knowledge or a body of principles maintained by an institution or profession. The term is not automatically approving: describing something as traditional may emphasize its continuity and authority, while suggesting that it is fixed, outdated, or resistant to change. In literary, historical, and religious contexts, tradition may refer to teachings received from predecessors and preserved through authoritative sources. Related forms such as traditional and traditionally are common, especially when describing practices, values, styles, or institutions shaped by inheritance and continuity.
nounA belief, custom, or way of life passed down through successive generations. It may also refer to an established practice or the process of transmitting such customs.
- A belief, custom, or practice accepted and preserved across generations.
- A long-established or inherited way of doing something.
- The transmission of customs, beliefs, or knowledge from one generation to another.
- A body of teachings or principles held in authority by a community or institution.
"The festival has become an important tradition in the town."
"It is a family tradition to spend the entire holiday together."
"The scholar rejected the received tradition and proposed a radical reinterpretation."
Use the plural for multiple inherited customs, practices, or bodies of tradition.
"The region is known for its traditions of music and seasonal celebration."
Tradition is literally something handed down: its name comes from the Latin word for delivering or passing something from one person to another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tradition
The word entered Middle English through Anglo-French, ultimately deriving from Latin traditio, a noun meaning “handing down” or “delivery.” That form is connected with Latin tradere, “to hand over, deliver, or betray,” and the same root underlies words including betray and traitor. Its early sense referred to the act of delivering or handing down a belief or account, before it developed toward the modern meanings of inherited custom and established practice.
Related word forms
How tradition is actually used
The word is neutral in register but often suggests continuity, communal authority, and continuity with earlier generations. It can also imply that a practice is unchanging or resistant to reform, depending on context.