customary
Americanadjective
-
according to or depending on custom; usual; habitual.
- Synonyms:
- regular, common, conventional, accustomed, wonted
- Antonyms:
- uncommon
-
of or established by custom rather than law.
-
Law. defined by long-continued practices.
the customary service due from land in a manor.
noun
-
a book or document containing the legal customs or customary laws of a locality.
-
any body of such customs or laws.
adjective
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in accordance with custom or habitual practice; usual; habitual
-
law
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founded upon long continued practices and usage rather than law
-
(of land, esp a feudal estate) held by custom
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noun
Synonym Usage
See usual.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of customary
First recorded in 1375–1425; 1515–25 for current senses; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin custumārius, customārius, equivalent to costum(i)a, “custom” (also in Vulgar Latin; see custom) + -ārius -ary
Explanation
Something customary is done according to practice. When a bride walks down the aisle, it's customary for everyone at the wedding to rise out of respect. Every culture has its own customary traditions. In American culture it's customary for a child who loses a tooth to put it under her pillow and wait for the Tooth Fairy to arrive. In Greece, on the other hand, it's customary to throw a child's lost tooth onto the roof for good luck. Customary can also reference habitual things a person does, like taking your shoes off when you come home, or writing in your diary before bed.
Vocabulary lists containing customary
"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Six
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Unit 2: Pivotal Words and Phrases
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"A Walk to the Jetty," Vocabulary from a novel excerpt
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The report said the goal seemed to be to circumvent a $2,500 cap and add a $480 gratuity, or 20%, in a place where tipping isn’t customary.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
“We got the stick around pretty good today,” said Jorden Wells, who ran the first leg Friday instead of his customary second leg, which was run by Jaelen Hunter.
From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026
As is customary in the genre, what we think of its protagonists is a subjective question, determined by perspective more than anything else.
From Salon • May 24, 2026
In its statement, the department describes the addendum as "customary", and also a necessary part of settling lawsuits in a way that ends them for good.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
Each guest, as was customary, brought a gift for the bride-to-be, except Perseus alone.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
