customary
KUSS-tuh-mer-ee
/ˈkʌstəməri/
According to the customs or usual practices associated with a particular society, place, or set of circumstances.
Customary describes what is 'normal' or 'expected' in a specific culture, often without the rigid formality of a law.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin 'consuetus', the past participle of 'consuescere' (to accustom). It shares a root with 'costume', which originally meant the 'customary' dress of a particular group.
Word relationships
- traditional: Traditional implies a long history; customary simply implies that it is the current habit or expectation.
- usual: Usual is a general term for common; customary is specific to social or cultural habits.
- unusual: Unusual is anything out of the ordinary, while customary is the ordinary itself.
Commonly confused with
- protocol: Customary is what people usually do; protocol is what people are officially required to do.
Word family
- custom (noun): A traditional practice.
- customarily (adverb): In a way that follows custom.
Collocations
- customary practice
- customary behavior
- it is customary to
- customary law
Example sentences
- "It is customary in many Mediterranean countries to take a short nap, or siesta, during the hottest part of the day." Travel
- "The judge ruled based on customary law, which had been practiced in the region for generations." Legal History
Memory hook
A 'customary' action is what people in that 'customer' base usually do. Customary is the 'custom' of the land.
When not to use
Don't use 'customary' for something that only happens once; it must be a repeated habit or tradition.
Fun facts
- The words 'custom' and 'costume' were once the same word, referring to the habits and dress of a people.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.