customary

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

Synonyms

• conventional
• current
• going
• popular
• prevailing
• prevalent
• standard
• stock
• usual

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

The completion of the sale is still waiting for clearance from Beijing and other customary closing conditions. —Denni Hu, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024

Not soon after, the city began to put up Regent Street’s customary Christmas lights and decorations, meaning the shoot was pushed several months. —Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 17 Dec. 2024

Without Tucker and Bregman, their lineup lacks their customary punch, but they aren’t finished remaking the roster. —Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024

To uphold traditional values and avoid unwed pregnancies, parents might arrange marriages for daughters as young as twelve or thirteen, in customary ceremonies that didn’t carry legal force. —H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see custom entry 1

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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