custom

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noun cus·tom \ ˈkə-stəm \

Definition of custom

1 a :a usage or practice common to many or to a particular place or class or habitual with an individual

It is the custom in New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras.

funeral customs

b :long-established practice considered as unwritten law

c :repeated practice

Custom makes all things easy.

d :the whole body of usages, practices, or conventions that regulate social life

… family, kinship, and custom constituted the grounds of community.
—V. B. Leitch

2 customs 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

went through customs at the airport without any difficulty

3 a :business patronage (see patronage 4)

b :usually habitual patrons :customers

See custom defined for English-language learners

See custom defined for kids

Examples of custom in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology 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

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First Known Use: 13th century

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custom Synonyms

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

Synonym Discussion of custom

habit, practice, usage, custom, wont mean a way of acting fixed through repetition. habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively.

- had a habit of tapping his fingers

practice suggests an act or method followed with regularity and usually through choice.

- our practice is to honor all major credit cards

usage suggests a customary action so generally followed that it has become a social norm.

- western-style dress is now common usage in international business

custom applies to a practice or usage so steadily associated with an individual or group as to have almost the force of unwritten law.

- the custom of wearing black at funerals

wont usually applies to a habitual manner, method, or practice of an individual or group.

- as was her wont, she slept until noon

custom

adjective

Definition of custom

1 :made or performed according to personal order

2 :specializing in custom work or operation

a custom tailor

See custom defined for English-language learners

Examples of custom in a Sentence

The new kitchen will have custom cabinets.
that business tycoon wears only custom suits

Recent Examples of custom from the Web

What’s popular: Custom tables and vanities ($3,500 to $8,000), plus floating cabinets ($2,500 to $5,000).

— linda jerkins, ajc, "Southern Made: For the nester & entertainer," 17 Aug. 2017
The new wheelchair will be custom fit for Grace by Numotion and costs $4,040.

— angela shoemaker, The Courier-Journal, "Area wrestlers go to the mat to help girl, 5, get new wheelchair for Disney World trip," 14 Aug. 2017
Custom triangular windows above the kitchen now fill the cabin with natural light.

— susan langenhennig, NOLA.com, "Intrigued by tiny houses? Check out this Folsom 'mini barn'," 19 July 2017
Custom fit earphones, where the some or all of the earphone is moulded to fit your ear exactly, have undergone something of a resurgence.

— mark walton, Ars Technica, "Custom fit earphones: Audio nirvana or a waste of money?," 18 July 2017
The Merritt brothers have built an enterprise that designs, engineers, manufactures and installs custom interior architectural woodwork, cabinetry and furniture.

— marcia pledger, cleveland.com, "Merritt Woodworking in Mentor creates for superyachts, billionaires (photos)," 18 June 2017
Custom design, engraving and repair services are part of the offerings.

— nancy ngo, Twin Cities, "Where to shop when roaming in Buffalo, Minn.," 21 May 2017
The living area’s custom acrylic cocktail table, for instance, is a radiant golden yellow.

— vicky lowry, ELLE Decor, "House Tour: An Upper West Side Apartment That Proves Style And Practicality Can Co-Exist," 21 Apr. 2017
Custom friends lists are great for cutting down on News Feed clutter.

— david nield, Popular Mechanics, "How to Delete Your Facebook Account," 23 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'custom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of custom

see ¹custom

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1757

See Words from the same year

custom Synonyms

Synonyms

bespoke (also bespoken), custom–made, customized, custom-tailored, made-to-order, tailored, tailor-made

Antonyms

mass-produced, ready-made

Related Words

particular, special, specialized; custom-built, handcrafted, handmade; made-to-measure

CUSTOM Defined for English Language Learners

custom

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noun

Definition of custom for English Language Learners

: an action or way of behaving that is usual and traditional among the people in a particular group or place
: something that is done regularly by a person
customs : taxes or fees that are paid to the government when goods come into or go out of a country

custom

adjective

Definition of custom for English Language Learners

: made to fit the needs or requirements of a particular person
: doing work that fits the needs or requirements of a particular person

CUSTOM Defined for Kids

custom

play

noun cus·tom \ ˈkə-stəm \

Definition of custom for Students

1 :the usual way of doing things :the usual practice

2 customs plural :duties or taxes paid on imports or exports

3 :support given to a business by its customers

Buyers grew tired of waiting … and … took their custom elsewhere.
—Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard

custom

adjective

Definition of custom for Students

1 :made or done to personal order

custom furniture

2 :specializing in work done to personal order

a custom printer

Headscratcher for custom

Custom means the usual way of doing things, but custom can also mean that something has been made according to a special order.

Law Dictionary

custom

noun cus·tom

legal Definition of custom

1 :a practice common to many or to a particular place or institution; especially :a long-established practice that is generally recognized as having the force of law — see also section 1983 — compare usage

2 plural

a :duties, tolls, or imposts imposed by the law of a country on imports or exports

b usually singular in construction :the agency, establishment, or procedure for collecting such customs