# traditional

/tɹəˈdɪʃənəɫ/ (US) · /tɹɐdˈɪʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/traditional
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. following custom

adjective · CEFR A2

following ways of behaving or doing things that have continued in a group of people for a long time.

For teachers: relating to or based on inherited customs, beliefs, or practices. Often used to describe cultural norms passed down through generations.

- It is traditional in my family to eat a large breakfast together on Sunday mornings.
- The community remains deeply committed to traditional farming methods, despite the increasing pressure to adopt industrial machinery and chemical fertilisers.

### 2. music/art style

adjective · CEFR B1

describing a style of music or art that follows old rules and uses older instruments or tools.

For teachers: denoting a style of art or music that adheres to established historical forms rather than contemporary or experimental ones.

- The band plays traditional folk songs from the local area.
- The festival showcased traditional acoustic performances, deliberately excluding any electronic or synthesised elements to preserve the historical sound of the genre.

### 3. anonymous composer

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

used when the person who wrote a song is unknown because the music is very old.

For teachers: attributed to an unknown author or composer, typically because the work has been passed down through oral tradition.

- The program listed the old lullaby as a traditional song.
- Many of the carols performed tonight are marked as traditional, their original melodies having evolved through centuries of communal singing before being transcribed.

### 4. Chinese script

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the older, more complex way of writing Chinese characters.

For teachers: referring to the set of Chinese characters that were not affected by the simplification reforms of the 20th century.

- Books in Hong Kong are usually printed using traditional characters.
- While the mainland uses simplified script, scholars often prefer traditional characters for their historical depth and visual complexity.

### 5. physical art media

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

art made with real tools like paint and paper, rather than on a computer.

For teachers: art produced using physical media such as oil, charcoal, or clay, as opposed to digital tools.

- She posts her digital sketches on weekdays and her traditional paintings on the weekend.
- The artist's portfolio is split between digital concept work and high-quality traditional, demonstrating a mastery of both software and physical oils.

Usage: Often used as a shortened form of 'traditional art' in online communities.

## Examples

- They wear traditional clothes for the wedding ceremony.
- The restaurant serves traditional Italian dishes that have been in the family for three generations.
- While the architect incorporated modern materials like steel and glass, the building's overall silhouette remains deeply rooted in the traditional aesthetic of the region.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.