traditionalists

IPA/trəˈdɪʃ.ən.əl.ɪst/

KK[trədˈɪʃnələsts]IPA/trəˈdɪʃ.ən.əl.ɪst/

1.nounC1

Definition

people who want older beliefs, customs, or ways of doing things to stay in place instead of being replaced by newer ones.

Example

During the school meeting, traditionalists opposed replacing uniforms with hoodies.

traditionalists resisting a new policy change

In the party, traditionalists still wanted paper ballots instead of voting by phone.

traditionalists in politics and procedure debates

Common collocations

religious traditionalists
cultural traditionalists
party traditionalists
traditionalists within the movement

Synonyms

conservatives
often broader and more political; not always tied to custom or long-established practice
old-school supporters
more informal and often lighter in tone
orthodox believers
usually narrower and more connected with religion or strict doctrine

Antonyms

reformers
focuses on people who actively want change
modernizers
stresses updating systems, ideas, or technology

Grammar Patterns

traditionalists + plural verb

traditionalists in + group / movement

Usage Note

Often used in discussions of politics, religion, education, or family life. It names the people who defend older ideas, not the ideas themselves.

Common Mistakes

He is very traditionalists.

He is very traditional.' / 'He is a traditionalist.

traditionalists is a plural noun, so it cannot describe one person after be.

traditionalistspositive
more traditionalistscomparative
most traditionalistssuperlative

1.adjectiveC1

Definition

showing a clear preference for older beliefs, customs, or social rules instead of newer ones.

Example

The editor kept a traditionalist view of grammar and rejected the new spelling.

traditionalist + view for opinions and attitudes

Her grandparents hold traditionalist ideas about marriage and family roles.

Common collocations

traditionalist values
traditionalist beliefs
traditionalist wing
traditionalist opinion

Synonyms

conservative
broader and more common, often especially political
orthodox
more formal and often suggests stricter obedience to accepted doctrine
old-school
informal and often softer or more playful in tone

Antonyms

progressive
describes ideas that welcome social or cultural change
forward-looking
focuses on future change rather than past practice

Grammar Patterns

traditionalist + view / idea / member

be traditionalist about + topic

Usage Note

Usually describes people, groups, views, or attitudes that prefer older customs and social rules. Distinguish from sense 2, which focuses on methods or arrangements that stay unchanged.

2.adjectiveC1

Definition

keeping an older method or arrangement in place instead of updating it.

Example

The bakery still uses a traditionalist method of cooling bread on wooden racks.

traditionalist + method for unchanged practice

Their village follows a traditionalist system for choosing festival leaders each spring.

Common collocations

traditionalist approach
traditionalist method
traditionalist system
traditionalist style

Synonyms

old-style
emphasizes appearance or arrangement more than ideology
unchanged
neutral and broader; it does not suggest a preference for older ways
conventional
can mean normal or widely accepted now, not necessarily long-standing

Antonyms

updated
changed to fit newer needs or technology
modernized
actively redesigned with newer methods

Grammar Patterns

traditionalist + method / approach / system

traditionalist way of + -ing

Usage Note

Usually modifies nouns like method, system, arrangement, or style. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes beliefs or attitudes rather than the practice itself.

Word family

tradition
nounB1
traditional
adjectiveB1
traditionally
adverbB2
traditionalist
nounC1
traditionalism
nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all suggest resistance to change, but they do not point to exactly the same kind of person. A traditionalist mainly wants older customs, values, or ways of doing things to continue. Conservative is broader and often political, so it can describe someone who prefers gradual change or little change in society. Orthodox is more formal and usually stresses strict loyalty to accepted religious or ideological teaching. Old-school is informal and can even sound warm or approving. Reactionary is much stronger and often criticizes someone for opposing modern social or political change. For example, a traditionalist may defend school uniforms, while a reactionary might fight against almost every new reform in the system.

conservative ↗orthodox ↗old-school ↗reactionary

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

deeply traditionalist
firmly traditionalist
strongly traditionalist

Phrases

a traditionalist approach
traditionalist ideas about marriage
traditionalist views on education

Prepositions

traditionalist about
traditionalist in
traditionalist on

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Traditionalist was formed in English from tradition and the suffix -ist. Tradition came through French from Latin traditio, which meant 'a handing over' or 'a passing on'. The word first named people who wanted inherited beliefs and customs to continue, and from that it also developed an adjective use for views, groups, and methods that deliberately keep older ways.

First known use

1840

1840, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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