habitual

[huh-bich-oo-uhl]

adjective

1. of the nature of a habit; fixed by or resulting from habit.

   habitual courtesy.

2. (of a person) having developed a specified character through force of habit.

   a habitual gossip.

   Synonyms: inveterate, confirmed
   Antonyms: occasional

3. commonly used, followed, observed, etc., as by a particular person; customary.

   She took her habitual place at the table.

   Synonyms: regular, accustomed
   Antonyms: unaccustomed

habitual

/ həˈbɪtjʊəl /

adjective

1. (usually prenominal) done or experienced regularly and repeatedly

   the habitual Sunday walk

2. (usually prenominal) by habit

   a habitual drinker

3. customary; usual

   his habitual comment

Other Word Forms

• habitually adverb
• habitualness noun
• nonhabitual adjective
• nonhabitualness noun
• quasi-habitual adjective
• unhabitual adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of habitual¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Medieval Latin habituālis “relating to dress, condition, or habit,” equivalent to Latin habitu(s) habit ¹ + -ālis -al ¹

Synonym Study

See usual.

Example Sentences

He was talking about the city he is asking to choose him to lead, and accusing it of casual and habitual bigotry.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Miller accused Uygur of “racist, bigoted rhetoric” around Israel and Uygur countered that Miller was a habitual liar.

Read more on Salon

The government says the ban applies only to addicts and “habitual users of illegal drugs,” not to all those who have used drugs on occasion or in the past.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But their more intimate songs portray her as an habitual outsider who doubts her own abilities and motivations.

Read more on BBC

It forced us out of any habitual patterns and into a space of pure response.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• addicted 
• chronic 
• hardened 
• inveterate 
• perpetual 
• repeated