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

Relevance
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 Long before the internet, recipes were passed down through generations to preserve traditions within families. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026 That will mean speaking of religious freedom not as part of a long menu of human rights but as something that advances America’s traditions and security needs. — Matthew Schmitz, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026 The documentary recounts the history of the original group while heeding its call to action by collaborating with next-gen artists to carry the tradition forward. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 But some wondered if the grimy, low-fi tradition of the Regional American Horror Film could survive an AI future. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tradition
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tradition
Noun
  • The country held no direct presidential elections between 1960 and 1989, a period that included military rule from 1964 to 1985.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The company disputes that 27 odor complaints since 2024 and 67 videos of work being done outside permitted hours referenced in a city staff report represent actual violations of the city’s noise, odor and operating hour rules.
    — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The tale of a girl on the verge of adulthood facing the threat of immigration agents and haunted by specters from Mexican folklore is told through live actors, sophisticated puppetry and an original score of Indigenous percussion.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Domingo plays the eldest daughter of a manananggal – a creature from Philippine folklore that can separate its upper torso from the lower part of its body.
    — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Our responsibility is to provide accurate medical information, compassionate counseling and the full range of medically reasonable options so patients can make informed decisions consistent with their values.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Sayegh also puts her staying power down to her father’s influence, which instilled core values like honoring deals, treating people with respect and booking movies based on audience demand and not personal taste.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, the whole rock-and-roll mythology is outside your door, as is The Comedy Store.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Most biblical scholars read the story of the flood in Genesis as part of a much older tradition of flood mythology from the ancient Near East.
    — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Even more impressive is the company’s commitment to the local community and environment, and to educating guests about the area’s Indigenous culture and heritage.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • De Biase explained that the team has been championing heritage as Vaccarello celebrates his 10th anniversary with the brand.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Those are anthology series, however, and one season doesn’t necessarily flow directly from the previous one (the large pile-up of AHS lore aside).
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Now, the song’s goosebump-inducing bridge and juicy lore have captivated a new generation of fans, leading to steady streaming gains over the past three months.
    — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Gaines was also in the building that night, and her adversary and Olympic legend Simone Biles was the team's guest of honor for that game.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Created by comedy legend Carl Reiner, the show centered on Rob Petrie, played by Dick Van Dyke, who is the head writer for the fictional The Alan Brady Show.
    — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tradition.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tradition. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on tradition

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!