Meaning & use
customs and traditions
Last updated
Meaning
phraseplural
The usual ways of behaving and the long-established beliefs and practices of a particular group or society.
Grammar: Always plural; takes a plural verb, e.g., 'The customs and traditions are...'.
Patterns
- local customs and traditions
- respect customs and traditions
- preserve customs and traditions
Learning about the customs and traditions of a new country can help you feel more at home.
The festival celebrates the customs and traditions of the indigenous people.
Many families pass down their customs and traditions from one generation to the next.
Common combinations
- local customs and traditions
- Tourists should respect the local customs and traditions.
- preserve customs and traditions
- The museum works to preserve the customs and traditions of the region.
- ancient customs and traditions
- The village still follows ancient customs and traditions.
- customs and traditions of a place
- She wrote a book about the customs and traditions of her homeland.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- custom noun
- A usual way of behaving in a society.
- tradition noun
- A belief or way of doing something that has existed for a long time.
- traditional adjective
- Following long-established customs or beliefs.
Commonly confused: customs and traditions or habits?
customs and traditions vs habits
Habits are personal and often automatic, while customs and traditions are shared by a group and passed down over time.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'customs and traditions' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Customs and traditions' is a plural noun phrase, so it fits as the subject in option B. The other options treat it as a singular noun or a verb, which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “customs and traditions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.