customary

[ kuhs-tuh-mer-ee ]

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.

noun

, plural cus·tom·ar·ies.

1. a book or document containing the legal customs or customary laws of a locality.
2. any body of such customs or laws.

customary

/ 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

noun

1. 1. a statement in writing of customary laws and practices
   2. a body of such laws and customs

Derived Forms

• ˈcustomariness, noun
• ˈcustomarily, adverb

Other Words From

• cus·tom·ar·i·ly [kuhs, -t, uh, -mer-, uh, -lee, kuhs-t, uh, -, mair, -, uh, -lee], adverb
• non·custom·ari·ly adverb
• non·custom·ary adjective
• un·custom·ari·ly adverb
• un·custom·ary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of customary¹

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; custom ) + -ārius -ary

Synonym Study

See usual.

Example Sentences

“They came through all night,” Centennial coach Matt Logan said of his defense while wearing his customary shorts despite temperatures in the 50s.

From Los Angeles Times

Set around the hospital’s emergency room, which keeps the narrative compact and busy and requires fewer sets, it comes with the customary variety pack of characters.

From Los Angeles Times

Both have tried to sound confident of victory in the last week or so, which is customary at this stage of the game.

From Salon

While it’s not surprising that Harris visited the most hotly contested battlegrounds of the campaign in its home stretch, she departed from her customary rally-style events.

From BBC

Separate negotiations will determine how much LA28 will reimburse Long Beach for extra services — such as trash collection and traffic management — that are above “normal and customary” for the city.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accepted
• traditional