customary

1 of 2

adjective

cus·​tom·​ary ˈkə-stə-ˌmer-ē 

-ˌme-rē

1

: commonly practiced, used, or observed

customary acts of courtesy

his customary enthusiasm

2

: based on or established by custom

customary laws

customariness

ˈkə-stə-ˌmer-ē-nəs 

-ˌme-rē-

noun

customariness

2 of 2

noun

cus·​tom·​ar·​i·​ness ˈkə-stə-ˌmer-ē-nəs 

-ˌme-rē-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being customary

Synonyms of customary

Adjective

• usual
• conventional
• prevailing
• current

Choose the Right Synonym for customary

usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed mean familiar through frequent or regular repetition.

usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

Examples of customary in a Sentence

Adjective

He forgot the customary “thank you.”

It is customary to hold the door open for someone who is entering a building behind you.

She dressed in her customary fashion.

He did the work with his customary efficiency.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The deal is subject to approvals of several Jardine Cycle & Carriage’s partners and other customary conditions. — Yessar Rosendar, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

The mesmerizing juxtaposition of colors and cultures and sights and sounds from the customary scene was punctuated July 11 by the sixth and final match here, Argentina’s 3-1 victory over Switzerland. — Kansas City Star, 16 Aug. 2026

It’s been customary in film circles to bemoan the rise of legacy sequels, movies that follow a new generation of characters in the same world of a once prominent franchise, with original characters back mostly for nostalgia and vibes. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026

The new Google phones will run Android 17 with the customary seven years of updates (not that Google likes to talk about versions much anymore)—it’s much more interested in talking about all the things Gemini can do on Android. — ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see custom entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for customary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

Kids Definition

customary

adjective

cus·​tom·​ary ˈkəs-tə-ˌmer-ē 

1

: based on or established by custom

customary rent

2

: commonly done, observed, or used

her customary kindness

customary courtesies

customarily

ˌkəs-tə-ˈmer-ə-lē 

adverb