habitual

adjective

ha·​bit·​u·​al hə-ˈbi-ch(ə-)wəl 

ha-,

-ˈbi-chəl

1

: regularly or repeatedly doing or practicing something or acting in some manner : having the nature of a habit : customary

habitual candor

habitual behavior

habitual drug use

2

: regularly or repeatedly doing, practicing, or acting in some manner : doing something by force of habit

habitual drunkards

a habitual liar

3

: resorted to on a regular basis

our habitual diet

4

: inherent in an individual

habitual grace

habitually adverb

habitualness noun

Synonyms

• bred-in-the-bone
• chronic
• confirmed
• dyed-in-the-wool
• inveterate

Choose the Right Synonym for habitual

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 habitual in a Sentence

He was fired for his habitual lateness.

They went for their habitual evening walk.

Recent Examples on the Web

Selected for the main competition at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival, Z’s new film, The Unseen Sister, outwardly at least, has similar themes to Nina Wu — that is, the habitual abuse of women in the entertainment industry as well as the trials of women at the margins of society. —Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2024

When these factors permeate the workplace and create internal challenges, leaders must be prepared to deflect habitual reactions that might be detrimental to their teams—namely, anything standing to compound the situation and create negative groupthink. —Dylan Taylor, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Despite the upbeat, fighting talk, the talk session rounded off with a succession of audience questions which variously asked how Hong Kong martial arts could be saved, promoted or taught. Hung, returning to his habitual ebullient mode, had no doubt. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024

He was ultimately sentenced to life in prison — not for the murders, but for his habitual car-thieving. —Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see habit entry 1

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing habitual

• habitual be

Kids Definition

habitual

adjective

ha·​bit·​u·​al hə-ˈbich-(ə-)wəl 

ha-

1

: being or done by habit

habitual tardiness

2

: doing or acting out of habit

habitual talkers

3

: done, followed, or used often or regularly

took our habitual path

habitually

-ē

adverb

habitualness noun

Medical Definition

habitual

adjective

ha·​bit·​u·​al hə-ˈbich-(ə-)wəl, ha-, -ˈbich-əl 

1

: having the nature of a habit : being in accordance with habit

habitual smoking

2

: doing, practicing, or acting in some manner by force of habit

habitual liars

habitually

-ē 

adverb

Legal Definition

habitual

adjective

ha·​bit·​u·​al hə-ˈbi-chə-wəl 

1

: practicing or acting in some manner by force of custom, habit, or addiction

a habitual drunkard

2

: being such a specified number of times or with designated regularity

habitual offenders

3

: involved in the practice of a person's usual behavior

her habitual residence