- 1 [countable, uncountable] custom (of doing something) an accepted way of behaving or of doing things in a society or a community an old/ancient custom the custom of giving presents at Christmas It's a local custom. It is the custom in that country for women to marry young. Wordfindersocietycivil rights, class, conform, convention, culture, custom, elite, equality, outsider, society Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveaccepted, age-old, ancient, … verb + customfollow, observe, practise/practice, … custom + verbdie out, disappear, prevail, … prepositionaccording to a/the custom, in accordance with (a/the) custom, through custom, … phrasesas is/was the custom See full entry
- 2[singular] (formal or literary) the way a person always behaves synonym habit, practice It was her custom to rise early. As was his custom, he knocked three times.
- 3[uncountable] (British English, formal) (also business North American English, British English) the fact of a person or people buying goods or services at a shop/store or business Thank you for your custom. Please call again. We've lost a lot of custom since prices went up. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French coustume, based on Latin consuetudo, from consuetus, past participle of consuescere ‘accustom’, from con- (expressing intensive force) + suescere ‘become accustomed’.Extra examples The custom died out in the 19th century. The rules have grown up through custom and are not laid down by law. These customs still prevail in remote areas. They poured wine around the trees in accordance with local custom. They still follow the custom of pinning money to the bride’s dress. He then repeated the question, as his custom was. It is the custom here to put flowers on the graves at Easter. The custom of using Latin for legal records came to an end. They were seated, as was their custom, in the summer house. They were unfamiliar with local customs and culture. When I reply to debates, it is my custom to have heard all the speeches.
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