Time-honored

adj.thoughtful, resilientformal

What it means

Respected because long use has shown continuing value.

Reach for it when describing a custom or method whose age supports, but does not alone prove, its worth

The orchard still uses a time-honored grafting method for the oldest pear varieties.

playful
old-school
when affectionate informality about an older practice fits
not when Old-school can imply resistance to improvement and may sound dismissive.
everyday
long-standing
when duration is the only safe claim
not when Long-standing can describe a problem and carries no approval.
everyday
traditional
when transmission through generations is the main fact
not when Traditional does not itself claim that the practice deserves respect or still works.
warm
classic
when enduring appeal and recognizability matter
not when Classic can refer to style without continuous use or ritual importance.
professional
established
when long acceptance gives a method authority
not when Established can result from bureaucracy or habit rather than earned regard.
professional
proven
when evidence of effectiveness matters more than age
not when Proven requires evidence that a merely time-honored custom may lack.
formal
venerable
when age and dignity deserve elevated respect
not when Venerable is grand and applies more naturally to people or institutions.
literary
ancestral
when inheritance from forebears is specifically relevant
not when Ancestral introduces family or cultural lineage that may not be established.

time-honored tradition
The time-honored tradition survived because participants could question its harmful parts.
time-honored method
A time-honored method still deserves comparison with safer modern alternatives.
time-honored practice
The time-honored practice gives each new apprentice a community mentor.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.