traditionalist
/trəˈdɪʃənəlɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /trəˈdɪʃənəlɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /-shənᵊlə̇st -shnəl-/ (ame, mw) · /trəˈdɪʃ.ən.əl.ɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /trəˈdɪʃ.ən.əl.ɪst/ (ame, ipa)
traditionalist — noun
- traditionalistsingular
- traditionalistsplural
1. a person who strongly prefers long-established customs and inherited practices,
a person who strongly prefers long-established customs and inherited practices, and who tends to resist modern changes or new ideas
Mrs. Khatun is a traditionalist who insists on arranging her grandchildren's marriages.
traditionalist + who-clause describing a belief
Professor Okonkwo, a traditionalist, lectures without slides, videos, or any modern tools.
traditionalist as appositive after a title
As a traditionalist, Mrs. Watanabe refused to let her children watch television.
The village elders, all traditionalists, refused to replace the hand-operated water pump.
Diego's father was a traditionalist who opposed women working outside the home.
- conservative
A conservative resists change broadly in politics or society; a traditionalist focuses specifically on preserving customs and inherited practices.
- conventionalist
A conventionalist follows what most people currently accept as normal; a traditionalist looks to the past for guidance rather than to present consensus.
用法筆記
Often implies a principled stance rather than mere habit. Some people use the word with pride; others use it to suggest stubbornness.
常見錯誤
traditionalist — adjective
- traditionalistpositive
- more traditionalistcomparative
- most traditionalistsuperlative
1. holding firmly to long-established beliefs, values, or practices and being unwil
holding firmly to long-established beliefs, values, or practices and being unwilling to accept modern alternatives
Fatima's traditionalist parents did not allow her to choose her own husband.
traditionalist + parents describing family attitudes
The traditionalist head chef refused to put any fusion dishes on the menu.
Yara's traditionalist uncle objected loudly when she announced she would not marry.
The traditionalist board members voted against hiring anyone under forty as CEO.
A traditionalist teacher, Mr. Nakamura still uses a blackboard and chalk every day.
- old-fashioned
More casual and often gently teasing; 'traditionalist' carries a more serious, ideological tone.
- conservative
Broader term covering political and social resistance to change; 'traditionalist' is narrower, centred on customs and heritage.
- progressive
Favouring new ideas and reform over inherited ways.
用法筆記
This sense describes a person's outlook or character. Distinguish from adjective sense 2 (DONE THE OLD WAY), which describes methods, objects, or events rather than people's beliefs.
2. following the methods, styles, or techniques that have been passed down over man
following the methods, styles, or techniques that have been passed down over many generations, without introducing modern changes or innovations
The bakery follows a traditionalist method, mixing dough by hand every morning.
traditionalist method + present-participle detail
The Okafor family held a traditionalist wedding ceremony following customs three centuries old.
The architect's traditionalist designs feature hand-carved beams and clay roof tiles.
Amara learned a traditionalist embroidery technique from her grandmother in the village.
The restaurant's traditionalist cooking relies on recipes passed down through five generations.
- traditional
'Traditional' simply states that something is done the old way; 'traditionalist' implies an active choice to reject modern alternatives.
- conventional
'Conventional' follows current norms; 'traditionalist' follows historical precedent regardless of what is currently normal.
- innovative
Introducing new ideas or methods rather than preserving old ones.
用法筆記
This sense modifies things (methods, events, objects) rather than people. Distinguish from adjective sense 1 (HOLDING TRADITIONAL BELIEFS), which describes a person's mindset.