# custom

/ˈkəstəm/ (US) · /kˈʌstəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/custom
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. social tradition

noun · CEFR B1

a way of behaving or a belief that has been established for a long time in a group of people.

For teachers: a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time.

- It is a local custom to exchange small gifts during the spring festival.
- The anthropologist spent three years documenting the unique burial customs of the mountain tribes before their oral traditions were lost to modernization.

### 2. business patronage

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

the support or regular business given to a shop or company by its customers.

For teachers: the regular patronage or support provided to a commercial establishment by its clientele.

- The small bakery relies on the custom of the people living in the village.
- The shopkeeper feared that the opening of a large supermarket nearby would draw away the loyal custom he had cultivated over decades.

### 3. made-to-order

adjective · CEFR B1

made specially for one person rather than being a standard item from a shop.

For teachers: made or done to order for a particular customer; specifically designed to meet individual requirements.

- He ordered a custom suit for his wedding so that it would fit him perfectly.
- The software firm provides custom solutions for logistics companies that find off-the-shelf applications inadequate for their specific operational needs.

### 4. legal practice

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a long-established practice that is treated as a law.

For teachers: a usage or practice of the people which, by common adoption and long unvarying habit, has become compulsory and has acquired the force of law.

- In some regions, the right to use the path is based on ancient custom rather than written law.
- The court ruled that the local custom of grazing cattle on the common land had been established for long enough to constitute a legal right.

## Examples

- It is a local custom to remove your shoes before entering a home.
- The festival preserves an ancient custom where villagers decorate the main square with seasonal flowers to celebrate the harvest.
- While modern legislation has superseded many traditional practices, certain land rights are still determined by local custom, provided the practice has been continuous and undisputed since time immemorial.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.