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 Today, Bamberg remains one of the best places to experience traditional Rauchbier, with two breweries preserving the centuries-old brewing tradition. — Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026 Cowin has brought the tradition up to date beginning in the late 1970s by suffusing her work with the look and feel of cinema and television (close-ups, storyboard-style progression), and the centering of women’s experience in the narrative. — Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 And all of them are following along in the tradition of the cozy murder mystery. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 For his parents, the dorm move-in process has become a family tradition. — Rina Nakano, CBS News, 25 Aug. 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
  • The Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC have all passed similar rules against signing the players, along with penalties against teams for doing so.
    — Seth Emerson, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Fisheries as the sticking point Under EU rules, fishing quotas are based on historical fishing patterns, among other things.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of rule
Noun
  • Deploy cunning and operate in darkness, like those shapeshifting, half-human, half-wolf creatures revered in German folklore.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Popular media and Southern folklore frequently claimed that kudzu was swallowing 150,000 new acres every year and had overtaken anywhere from 7 to 9 million acres across the region.
    — The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of folklore
Noun
  • Call it Comer 2035, a vision separate from the system’s broader Elevate 2035 plan that would articulate Comer’s pediatric-specific values and commitments.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Two common ones include beliefs about whether someone will listen and share information and whether someone shares your values.
    — John C. Besley, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of values
Noun
  • Wolf succumbs to Shura, a demonic force in the game’s mythology that possesses those who give in to bloodlust.
    — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Parton, who died Tuesday at age 80, occupied a space in our global cultural imagination — a figure of American mythology, someone best described as larger-than-life and then a little bit more.
    — Maria Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mythology
Noun
  • His heritage and fascination with fabric come into play in his newest solo show, The Noise Will Sound, which opens September 17 at his home base, Monique Meloche Gallery in West Town.
    — Web Behrens, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Navy selected Whittier for the commissioning ceremony to recognize Alaska’s maritime heritage and the state’s longstanding connection with the service.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of heritage
Noun
  • One group dawdling at the end of the line explained that much of their personal lore was bound up with trash cinema, and with Breen in particular.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Contrary to popular belief, Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 movie was not filmed there, although the hotel and the story have become inseparable parts of Estes Park lore.
    — Tim Jackson, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of lore
Noun
  • Naturally, when a legend like Dion emerges, a huge crowd of fans will form.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The Argentine legend completed a hat trick to stretch the lead to 5-1 in the 83rd minute, chipping a shot over the goalkeeper off an assist from Rodrigo De Paul.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tradition

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tradition

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