custom

noun cus·tom \ ˈkə-stəm \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

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.

Recent Examples of custom from the Web

The Galpin Collection Showroom, just around the corner from Galpin Speed Shop, is part showroom and part museum, displaying some amazing originals as well as countless classics and famous customs.

— heidi van horne, Houston Chronicle, "From famous restorations to complete builds, Shuten has done it all," 14 Apr. 2018
Something as simple as a shirt can attach meaning to the task of running, said Todd Sarmanian, who runs Advantage Sportswear in Wilmington, a custom embroidery and screen-printing shop started by his father.

— nora princiotti, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston Marathon runners wear their hearts on their singlets," 13 Apr. 2018
Each player presented a pair of sneakers to local custom sneaker designer Jake Danklefs, who then redesigned the shoes to feature the Fiesta colors the team favored in the 1990s.

— tom orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, "Warriors don’t expect to see Leonard in series," 13 Apr. 2018
It's wrapped in a custom House of Harlow print and features the boho-chic theme that Richie's collection is famous for.

— maria cassano, Allure, "Urban Decay and Nicole Richie's House of Harlow Are Launching Exclusive Products," 13 Apr. 2018
Ultimate Ears’ custom in-ear headphones tend to be for professional musicians to use in either studios or onstage, and the UE Live is no exception.

— chaim gartenberg, The Verge, "UE launches a $2,200 pair of in-ear monitors for live performers," 12 Apr. 2018
All photos courtesy of Airstream A slew of extra amenities shows Airstream’s usual attention to detail, like an exterior shower with hot and cold water, a powered patio awning, stylized aluminum wheels, LED lights, and a custom aluminum entry step.

— megan barber, Curbed, "Airstream’s new trailer, Nest, offers compact luxury for $45K," 12 Apr. 2018
Meetings in private hotel rooms between producers and actors looking to land a part in a movie or TV show are an age-old Hollywood custom.

— david ng, latimes.com, "SAG-AFTRA wants to end hotel room meetings in bid to combat sexual harassment," 12 Apr. 2018
Fans can interact by using #PHILAUnite and go to the site PhilaUnite.com to upload photos into a custom photo overlay for social sharing.

— charlotte carroll, SI.com, "76ers Unveil "Phila Unite" Campaign Ahead of First Playoff Berth Since 2011-12," 11 Apr. 2018

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

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

custom Synonyms

Synonyms

fashion, habit, 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;

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

Although each custom knee replacement joint is made specifically to fit an individual patient, Swank says there is little difference in cost or insurance coverage.

— orthocincy-dr. michael swank, Cincinnati.com, "Custom-designed knee replacement," 5 Mar. 2018
The landscape went from the midcentury’s world of largely custom confections (consider looks like Barbra Streisand’s spangled, see-through Arnold Scaasi pajamas of once-upon-a-time) to straight-off-the-runway numbers.

— Vogue, "21 Iconic Oscars Looks That Debuted on the Runway," 27 Feb. 2017
In honor of the Atlanta Braves, custom artwork throughout the hotel come in shades of red, white and blue.

— nancy trejos, USA TODAY, "New hotels: Gleaming properties from Washington, D.C. to California," 16 Feb. 2018
RideTech shocks, sway bars, and side exhausts were also installed, as was a completely custom four-link rear suspension by Ringbrothers.

— steve siler, Car and Driver, "Defiant Drive: Taking a Spin, Almost Literally, in Prestone’s 1036-HP, Hellcat-Powered ’72 AMC Javelin AMX," 23 Feb. 2018
As for the rest, Edgar Scott III, an heir, has superintended development of select custom housing lots on the property.

— john timpane, Philly.com, "The Ardrossan Estate: Last surviving gem of the Main Line, a 'Philadelphia Story' looking for a future," 16 Feb. 2018
This is how custom closet companies stay in business, after all.

— brie dyas, House Beautiful, "A Walk-In Closet Is a Complete and Utter Waste of Space," 28 Nov. 2016
Plus, custom approach routes can reduce noise pollution and save fuel.

— Popular Mechanics, "How To Fix Flying," 18 July 2016
Taking a cue from his rock brethren, Guns 'N Roses singer Axl Rose toured with both AC/DC and his own band in 2016 after breaking his foot, posting up in a similarly custom rock throne.

— gil kaufman, Billboard, "Marilyn Manson, Dave Grohl, 2 Chainz, Axl Rose, Lady Gaga & Other Artists Who Rocked Hard in Wheelchairs," 7 Nov. 2017

Origin and Etymology of custom

see ¹custom

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1757

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

custom Synonyms

CUSTOM Defined for English Language Learners

custom

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

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