custom

¹cus·tom

noun \ˈkəs-təm\

Definition of CUSTOM

1

a : a usage or practice common to many or to a particular place or class or habitual with an individual b : long-established practice considered as unwritten law c : repeated practice d : the whole body of usages, practices, or conventions that regulate social life

2

plural a : duties, tolls, or imposts imposed by the sovereign law of a country on imports or exports b usually singular in construction : the agency, establishment, or procedure for collecting such customs

3

a : business patronage b : usu. habitual patrons : customers

Examples of CUSTOM

1. It is the custom for the bride to wear a white dress on her wedding day.
2. According to custom, the festivities begin at dusk.
3. It's a matter of custom.
4. We went through customs at the airport without any difficulty.
5. It took us a long time to clear customs at the border.

Origin of CUSTOM

Middle English custume, from Anglo-French, from Latin consuetudin-, consuetudo, from consuescere to accustom, from com- + suescere to accustom; akin to suus one's own — more at suicide

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CUSTOM

Synonyms: habit, fashion, habitude, pattern, practice (also practise), ritual, second nature, trick, way, wont

Related Words: addiction; disposition; bent, inclination, proclivity, set, tendency, tenor, turn; bag, convention, form, mode, style; usage, use; deportment, manners, mores; drill, groove, jog trot, regime (also régime), regimen, rote, routine, rut; affectation, airs, pose; attribute, characteristic, mark, trait; eccentricity, kink, oddity, peculiarity, quirk, singularity, tic

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See Synonym Discussion at habit

Rhymes with CUSTOM

frustum