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
plural
customaries-
a book or document containing the legal customs or customary laws of a locality.
-
any body of such customs or laws.
adjective
-
in accordance with custom or habitual practice; usual; habitual
-
law
-
founded upon long continued practices and usage rather than law
-
(of land, esp a feudal estate) held by custom
-
noun
Related Words
See usual.
Other Word 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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 2: Pivotal Words and Phrases
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"A Walk to the Jetty," Vocabulary from a novel excerpt
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Customary rulers and selected groups were among the main target of the discussions - but no changes were made as a result.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2024
Customary international law permits all ships, including warships to conduct “innocent passage” through territorial seas.
From Washington Times • Nov. 29, 2022
“The position of the Indigenous people is clear: We reject the plan,” said Apolos Sroyer, chief of the Biak Customary Council, an assembly of clan chiefs.
From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2021
Zimbabwe has two sets of marriage laws, the Marriage Act and Customary Marriages Act.
From Reuters • Aug. 8, 2021
He was trying to boil them down, from Customary, Canon and Roman law, into a single code which he hoped to call the Civil one.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
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.
