customary

adjective

cus·​tom·​ary ˈkə-stə-ˌmer-ē How to pronounce customary (audio)
-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 noun
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

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The Museum of Fine Arts exhibition includes a 1st century Roman statue of Minerva, wearing her customary helmet and breastplate. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Understanding that Congress would never have consented to spend that much public money in this manner, the White House has sought at every point to ensure that its conduct was excluded from the customary constitutional processes. The Editors, National Review, 24 Oct. 2024 Ideally, Phoenix is aiming for a new type of agreement that reconciles both sides, hoping to retain local control while avoiding costs customary of consent decrees. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024 Lucid said the public offering is expected to close on or about Friday, subject to customary closing conditions. Michael Wayland, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for customary 

Word History

Etymology

see custom entry 1

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of customary was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near customary

Cite this Entry

“Customary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/customary. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

customary

adjective
cus·​tom·​ary ˈkəs-tə-ˌmer-ē How to pronounce customary (audio)
1
: based on or established by custom
customary rent
2
: commonly done, observed, or used
her customary kindness
customary courtesies
customarily adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on customary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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