custom

1 of 2

noun

cus·​tom ˈkə-stəm How to pronounce custom (audio)
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
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
The roofing was replaced with an insulating foam that helps keep the interior cool during hotter temperatures; insulation was added; and a custom stain was mixed so that the new replacement pieces match the Philippine mahogany paneling that is throughout the house. Mark David, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 Poetry about nature The custom of viewing blooming trees in spring arrived in Japan from the Asian continent. Małgorzata (gosia) K. Citko-Duplantis, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 From Ryan Gosling’s rainbow assortment of custom Gucci suiting to Colman Domingo’s brightly hued attire, real men wear pink — or any other color, for that matter. Marc Malkin, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024 Catherine, an artist who makes custom invitation and stationery, says that after the first poisoning on March 17, doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Fernandez crafts locally sourced lumber and live-edge hardwood slabs into custom furniture. The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Bars and restaurants can also make draft cocktails themselves, based on custom recipes. Kate Bernot, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The court indicated Sunday there will be at least one case decided Monday, adhering to its custom of not saying which one. Mark Sherman, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024 Ferrera wore a custom Dior Haute Couture black wool and silk crepe dress with white organza sleeves. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
Adjective
But many major games have adopted custom anti-cheat systems now that cheaters are getting more sophisticated. Sean Hollister, The Verge, 2 Mar. 2024 This great room also houses a wood stove and a modern kitchen with a prep pantry, custom Italian cabinetry, and a leathered quartzite kitchen island. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024 Don't stop the music Don't forget a good speaker to play your custom Grammy soundtrack. Bradley Geiser, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024 No room was an afterthought— even the mudroom off the kitchen features custom Spanish tile. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2024 Around the corner is the gourmet kitchen, featuring custom Italian cabinetry designed by Rockwell Group. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2024 All rugs, upholstery and furniture are custom, too. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 27 Dec. 2023 The rest of the family will get custom scarves and hats. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023 Kate Herz is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in custom Arctic trips. Kate Herz, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'custom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of custom was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near custom

Cite this Entry

“Custom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custom. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

custom

1 of 2 noun
cus·​tom ˈkəs-təm How to pronounce custom (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on custom

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