# customs

/ˈkəstəmz/ (US) · /kˈʌstəmz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. border control area

noun · CEFR B1

the place at a port, airport, or border where officials check your luggage for illegal goods.

For teachers: the designated area at an international entry point where travellers and goods are inspected by government officials.

- It took us nearly an hour to get through customs because the airport was so busy.
- After landing, passengers must proceed directly to customs to declare any restricted items or commercial goods brought from abroad.

Usage: Usually treated as a singular location despite the plural form.

### 2. import taxes

noun · CEFR B2

the money or taxes you must pay to the government when you bring certain goods into a country.

For teachers: the duties or tolls imposed by law on imported or exported goods.

- I had to pay customs on the expensive watch I bought while on holiday.
- The new trade agreement significantly reduced the customs payable on electronic components imported from the manufacturing hub.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun in this sense.

### 3. government agency

noun · CEFR B2

the government department that collects taxes on goods and stops illegal items from entering the country.

For teachers: the official department or agency authorised to collect taxes and regulate the flow of goods across national borders.

- Customs seized a large shipment of illegal cigarettes at the docks yesterday.
- The national Customs agency has implemented more rigorous screening protocols to combat the rise in counterfeit pharmaceutical imports.

Usage: Often capitalised when referring to a specific national body.

### 4. traditions or habits

noun · CEFR B1

the plural form of 'custom', meaning the usual ways of behaving in a particular group or society.

For teachers: the plural of 'custom'; established social patterns or traditional practices specific to a particular society or period.

- He spent years travelling the world to study the local customs of different tribes.
- The documentary explores how ancient marriage customs have adapted to the pressures of modern urban life in the region.

Usage: The plural of the countable noun 'custom'.

## Examples

- We had to go through customs after our flight landed.
- The officer at customs asked if I had any alcohol or tobacco to declare before letting me pass.
- Stringent new regulations at customs have led to significant delays for international shipping companies trying to move perishable goods across the border.

---

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.