customary

American  

[kuhs-tuh-mer-ee] / ˈkʌs təˌmɛr i /

adjective

1. according to or depending on custom; usual; habitual.

   Synonyms:

   regular, common, conventional, accustomed, wonted

   Antonyms:

   uncommon

2. of or established by custom rather than law.

3. Law. defined by long-continued practices.

   the customary service due from land in a manor.

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noun

customaries plural

1. a book or document containing the legal customs or customary laws of a locality.

2. any body of such customs or laws.

customary British  

/ ˈkʌstəmərɪ, -təmrɪ /

adjective

1. in accordance with custom or habitual practice; usual; habitual

2. law

   1. founded upon long continued practices and usage rather than law

   2. (of land, esp a feudal estate) held by custom

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noun

1. 1. a statement in writing of customary laws and practices

   2. a body of such laws and customs

Synonym Usage

See usual.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• customariness
  noun
• noncustomary
  adjective
• uncustomary
  adjective
• customarily
  adverb
• noncustomarily
  adverb
• uncustomarily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• customaries
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

Instead of the customary 60% to 70% occupancy rate in off-season June, the hotel is less than 40% full, the manager said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026

When the first hydration break took place in Wednesday's World Cup last-32 match between England and DR Congo, the customary boos could be heard from the fans.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

The strait comprises Omani and Iranian territorial waters, but under customary international law the two cannot generally block passage or charge tolls.

From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026

Yum! said it expects both transactions to be completed in the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026

It is customary for the first identifier to have the species named after him, or any name he chooses, so long as it is not already in use.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Related Words

• accepted
• traditional