custom

1 of 2

noun

cus·​tom ˈkə-stəm 

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 sense 4)

b

: usually habitual patrons : customers

custom

2 of 2

adjective

1

: made or performed according to personal order

2

: specializing in custom work or operation

a custom tailor

Synonyms

Noun

• fashion
• habit
• habitude
• pattern
• practice
• practise
• ritual
• second nature
• trick
• way
• wont

Adjective

• bespoke
• bespoken
• custom-made
• custom-tailored
• customized
• made-to-order
• tailor-made
• tailored

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of custom in a Sentence

Noun

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.

Adjective

The new kitchen will have custom cabinets.

that business tycoon wears only custom suits

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Selena Gomez Selena Gomez brought full-on old Hollywood glamour to the Oscars in a custom Ralph Lauren gown with serious sparkle. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025

Litigation is also heard by a judge who may be extremely knowledgeable about the law but less conversant regarding the customs and practices of what makes a sports league unique and profitable. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Mar. 2025

Adjective

His custom GapStudio outfit for the Academy Awards Nominees dinner in Los Angeles on Feb. 25 was a nod to the iconic singer-songwriter. —Justine Fisher, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025

That was the case for Donna Farnell, a mom in the U.K. who creates custom pet portraits and handmade books as part of her business the Thread Poets Society. —Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1757, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing custom

• custom-built
• custom-made
• custom-tailor

Rhymes for custom

• frustum
• accustom

Kids Definition

custom

1 of 2 noun

cus·​tom ˈkəs-təm 

1

: the usual way of doing things : the usual practice of a person or group

2

plural : duties or taxes paid on imports or exports

3

: support given a business by its customers

custom

2 of 2 adjective

1

: made or done to order

custom clothes

2

: specializing in custom work

a custom tailor

Legal Definition

custom

noun

cus·​tom

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