Conventional vs. Traditional: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Conventional refers to what is typical or standard, whereas traditional pertains to customs and beliefs passed down through generations.
Key Differences
Conventional implies adherence to accepted standards or norms, often seen in mainstream practices or ideas, while traditional emphasizes practices or beliefs inherited from historical, cultural, or familial legacy.
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Nov 15, 2023
In society, conventional methods or ideas might be current and widely accepted, but not necessarily rooted in history, unlike traditional approaches which are deeply ingrained due to historical or cultural lineage.
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Conventional wisdom or behavior aligns with the general consensus or current norms, whereas traditional wisdom is often based on long-standing customs or teachings.
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In terms of innovation, conventional methods might be less inclined towards radical changes, similar to traditional methods, but the latter is more focused on preserving historical or cultural continuity.
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In arts and literature, conventional styles follow current popular trends or norms, while traditional styles adhere to methods and techniques passed down through generations or cultural heritage.
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Comparison Chart
Change Adaptation
Adaptable to current trends
Resistant to change, preserving past values
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Source of Authority
Contemporary consensus or mainstream views
Historical practices or teachings
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Usage in Innovation
Often conventional in not deviating far
Traditional in maintaining historical roots
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Conventional and Traditional Definitions
Conventional
Typical belief
It's conventional wisdom that hard work pays off.
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Traditional
Customary cultural practice
Traditional dances are part of their cultural heritage.
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Conventional
Mainstream approach
Their conventional marketing techniques were effective.
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Traditional
Historically inherited
Traditional recipes are passed down through generations.
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Conventional
Regular method
The conventional method of teaching involves lectures.
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Traditional
Classic or time-honored
Traditional storytelling involves oral narratives.
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Conventional
Based on or in accordance with general agreement, use, or practice; customary
Conventional symbols.
A conventional form of address.
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Traditional
Adhering to the past
Wearing traditional attire on festivals is common.
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Conventional
Conforming to established practice or accepted standards; traditional
A conventional church wedding.
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Traditional
Of, relating to, or in accord with tradition
A traditional wedding ceremony.
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Conventional
Devoted to or bound by conventions to the point of artificiality; ceremonious.
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Traditional
Of, relating to, or derived from tradition.
This dance is one of the traditional customs in the area.
I think her traditional values are antiquated.
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Conventional
Unimaginative; conformist
Longed to escape from their conventional, bourgeois lives.
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Traditional
Communicated from ancestors to descendants by word only.
Traditional expositions of the Scriptures
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Conventional
Represented, as in a work of art, in simplified or abstract form.
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Traditional
Observant of tradition; attached to old customs; old-fashioned.
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Traditional
In lieu of the name of the composer of a piece of music, whose real name is lost in the mists of time.
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Traditional
Relating to traditional Chinese.
The traditional form of the character has twice as many strokes as the simplified form.
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Conventional
Using means other than nuclear energy
Conventional power plants.
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Conventional
Using means other than nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons
Conventional warfare.
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Traditional
Of or pertaining to tradition; derived from tradition; communicated from ancestors to descendants by word only; transmitted from age to age without writing; as, traditional opinions; traditional customs; traditional expositions of the Scriptures.
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Conventional
Pertaining to a convention, as in following generally accepted principles, methods and behaviour.
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Traditional
Observant of tradition; attached to old customs; old-fashioned.
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Conventional
Ordinary, commonplace.
They wear conventional clothes, eat conventional food, and keep conventional hours.
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Traditional
Consisting of or derived from tradition;
Traditional history
Traditional morality
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Traditional
Pertaining to time-honored orthodox doctrines;
The simple security of traditional assumptions has vanished
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Conventional
(weapons) Pertaining to a weapon which is not a weapon of mass destruction.
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Traditional
Ancient or long-established
The village follows traditional farming methods.
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Conventional
(agriculture) Making use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
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Conventional
(bridge) In accordance with a bidding convention, as opposed to a natural bid.
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Conventional
(finance) A conventional gilt-edged security, a kind of bond paying the holder a fixed cash payment (or coupon) every six months until maturity, at which point the holder receives the final payment and the return of the principal.
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Conventional
Formed by agreement or compact; stipulated.
Conventional services reserved by tenures upon grants, made out of the crown or knights' service.
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Conventional
Growing out of, or depending on, custom or tacit agreement; sanctioned by general concurrence or usage; formal.
The conventional language appropriated to monarchs.
The ordinary salutations, and other points of social behavior, are conventional.
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Conventional
Based upon tradition, whether religious and historical or of artistic rules.
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Conventional
Following accepted customs and proprieties;
Conventional wisdom
She had strayed from the path of conventional behavior
Conventional forms of address
Unconventional life styles
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Conventional
Conforming with accepted standards;
A conventional view of the world
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Conventional
(weapons) using non-nuclear energy for propulsion or destruction;
Conventional warfare
Conventional weapons
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Conventional
Unimaginative and conformist;
Conventional bourgeois lives
Conventional attitudes
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Conventional
In accord with or being a tradition or practice accepted from the past;
A conventional church wedding with the bride in traditional white
The conventional handshake
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Conventional
Rigidly formal or bound by convention;
Their ceremonious greetings did not seem heartfelt
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Conventional
Ordinary or usual
Wearing a suit to the office is conventional attire.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What does conventional mean?
Conventional refers to what is standard, typical, or widely accepted in current practice.
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Why are traditional values important?
They provide a sense of identity, continuity, and cultural heritage.
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What does traditional mean?
Traditional pertains to practices or beliefs that have been passed down through generations.
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Are conventional methods always the most effective?
Not necessarily; they are just the most commonly accepted.
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Do traditional practices change over time?
They can evolve, but they generally aim to preserve historical or cultural elements.
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Is conventional thinking always aligned with modern technology?
Often, but not necessarily; it aligns more with current norms.
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Is it easier to change conventional or traditional practices?
Conventional practices are generally easier to change as they are less rooted in the past.
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Can something be both conventional and traditional?
Yes, if it is both widely accepted now and has historical roots.
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How do traditional practices impact society?
They shape cultural norms, morals, and social behaviors.
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Is it important to challenge conventional ideas?
Yes, for progress and innovation, challenging norms can be vital.
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How does traditional music differ from contemporary music?
Traditional music is rooted in historical practices, unlike contemporary music which is more about current trends.
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Are traditional methods of teaching still relevant?
Yes, they offer foundational techniques and values.
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How do conventional and traditional views on marriage differ?
Conventional views may align with current societal norms, while traditional views are based on historical or cultural practices.
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Is following conventional paths always safe?
Often, but not always; sometimes, innovation requires diverging from them.
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Do traditional foods reflect a culture's history?
Yes, they often embody a culture's historical ingredients and cooking methods.
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Can conventional wisdom be flawed?
Yes, as it is based on current beliefs which may not always be accurate.
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Can traditional art forms be modernized?
Yes, they can be adapted while maintaining core historical elements.
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How do conventional and traditional differ in terms of fashion?
Conventional fashion follows current trends, while traditional fashion preserves historical styles and methods.
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Can a conventional approach be innovative?
It can be, if it takes a new approach within accepted norms.
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Why do people adhere to traditional customs?
For cultural identity, continuity, and respect for heritage.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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Hifza Nasir
