What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Classical vs Traditional - What's the difference?

classical | traditional |

As adjectives the difference between classical and traditional

is that classical is of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art while traditional is 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.

classical

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art.
  • * Arbuthnot
  • Mr. Greaves may justly be reckoned a classical author on this subject.
  • Of or pertaining to established principles in a discipline.
  • *
  • Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get; what you get is classical alpha-taxonomy which is, very largely and for sound reasons, in disrepute today.
  • (music) Describing European music and musicians of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
  • (informal, music) Describing serious music (rather than pop, jazz, blues etc), especially when played using instruments of the orchestra.
  • Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, especially to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
  • * Macaulay
  • He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college.
  • Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined; as, a classical style.
  • * Macaulay
  • Classical , provincial, and national synods.
  • (physics) Pertaining to models of physical laws that do not take quantum or relativistic effects into account; Newtonian or Maxwellian.
  • Synonyms

    * classic

    Derived terms

    * Classical Greece * Classical Greek * classical history * Classical Latin * classical music

    traditional

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • 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.
  • I think her traditional values are antiquated .
  • Observant of tradition; attached to old customs; old-fashioned.
  • In lieu of the name of the composer of a piece of music, whose real name is lost in the mists of time.
  • Antonyms

    * nontraditional, non-traditional * untraditional

    Derived terms

    * traditionally