tradition

noun

trə-ˈdi-shən How to pronounce tradition (audio)
Definition of traditionnext
1
as in rule
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in folklore
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tradition Almost overnight, a player from a country with the world’s 13th-largest population of about 113 million but with almost no professional tennis tradition is carrying one of the globe’s biggest diasporas from tournament to tournament. — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Unlike the brighter, more melodic style often associated with Austria and the Tyrol region, Swiss yodeling is slower and more melancholic — an emotionally nuanced tradition rooted in distinct regional dialects. — Jez Fielder, Fortune, 30 June 2026 There’s a perfectly worthy retelling of this story that approaches Los Angeles 1821 like Chinatown, one that delves deeply into the traditions of the people indigenous to the land as well as the early attempts to bring fresh water to this desert. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026 The three-judge panel found that Connecticut's ban is consistent with the country's historical tradition of firearms regulation, applying a new test for reviewing the constitutionality of gun laws that the Supreme Court set out in 2022. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tradition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tradition
  1. rule
  2. folklore
  3. values
  4. mythology
  5. heritage
  6. lore
  7. legend
Noun
  • In the southern Russian city of Krasnodar, which borders Crimea, another video shows a man filling up a container in the back of his car while two women berate him for breaking the rules.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The Marlins tacked on two runs in the second on Lopez’s ground-rule double and Hicks’ sacrifice fly.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of rule
Noun
  • And starring Barbie Ferreira as a vigilante web sleuth, their latest project successfully tapped into an earlier strain of viral folklore that resonated strongly with IndieWire’s chief film critic David Ehrlich.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
  • Others, already on the flight home, leave with their reputations enhanced, their followers multiplied and their place in World Cup folklore secure.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Definition of folklore
Noun
  • As temperatures rise, heat index values could approach the upper 90s.
    — Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026
  • The goal is to help people think through values, preferences, lifestyle, and relationship goals before beginning conversations.
    — Matthew Kayser Updated July 6, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of values
Noun
  • The threads that formed country music The American West generated its own mythologies.
    — Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • What if Baahubali dies and has to go through the 14 realms of the afterlife in Indian mythology?
    — Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
Definition of mythology
Noun
  • Mohamed Somo, a leader of fishermen in Lamu, a UNESCO heritage site, says boats that used to come in with catches of up to 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of fish now often bring home less than 30 kilograms (66 pounds).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • France, with its heritage in beauty and French craftsmanship, is an essential partner to us.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of heritage
Noun
  • Due to her limited knowledge of the lore, there were characteristics that guided her transformation.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 July 2026
  • Swift is known for her Fourth of July parties, which have become Rhode Island lore.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 2 July 2026
Definition of lore
Noun
  • First, the inability to use legends outside Ultimate Team continues to be one of EA's cardinal sins.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • But family legend has it that the one brother who settled on the island married a Native American and began a long line of Gendrons.
    — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of legend

Browse Nearby Words

trading on
tradition
traditional
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Cite this Entry

“Tradition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tradition. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tradition

Nglish: Translation of tradition for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tradition

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