shibboleth noun

/ˈʃɪb.əl.eθ/ n [C]

Definition

•

formal a belief or custom that is not now considered as important and correct as it was in the past

They still cling to many of the old shibboleths of education.

•

a word, phrase, custom, etc. only known to a particular group of people, which you can use to prove to them that you are a real member of that group

(Definition of shibboleth noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Synonyms and related words:

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something that is very easy to do

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