Etymology PIE word *ḱóm PIE word *swé From Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, inherited from Latin consuētūdinem, a noun derived from cōnsuēscō, from con- (“with”) + suēscō (“become used or accustomed to”). Displaced native Old English ġewuna. Doublet of costume, consuetude, and kastom. The adjectival form first appears c. 1830.
Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
Much forbidden by elder custom is accepted today.
A custom More honour'd in the breach than the observance.c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv]:
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20 […] These men being Iewes, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customes which are not lawfull for vs to receiue, neither to obserue, being Romanes.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 16:20-21:
For first Mr. Dier's opinion was that the ancient custom for exportation was by the common laws; and goeth furder, that that ancient custom was the custom upon wools, woolfells, and leather.a. 1627 (date written), Francis Bacon, “A.D. 1610. Ætat. 50.”, in James Spedding, editor, The Works of Francis Bacon, […]: The Letters and the Life of Francis Bacon […], volume IV, London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, published 1858, →OCLC, page 194:
Moved beyond his custom, Gama said1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part 6”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
2
Habitual buying of goods from one same vendor.
Dated outside UK
Thank you for your custom.
Let him have your custom, but not your votes.1710 September 28, Joseph Addison, The Whig Examiner, number 3:
3
Collective The habitual patrons (i.e. customers) of a business; business support.
Dated outside UK
4
Law Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription.
The distinction between custom and usage it that usage is a fact and custom is a law. There can be usage without custom, but not custom without usage.1888, Francis Wharton, A Commentary on the Law of Evidence in Civil Issues, 3rd edition, volume 2, page 188:
5
Traditional beliefs or rituals.
The Ancient Egyptian culture had many distinctive and interesting beliefs and customs; one custom was the mummification of the dead.
6
A custom (made-to-order) piece of art, etc.
The rest of the necklace holders finally came in! If you bought a custom from me thank you so much for your patience! I’m gonna try my best to crank them out as fast as possible2019 May 31, Abella Art & Design, tweet
Oftentimes I have trouble finding enough women to buy customs from. Strangely enough, finding women to take hundreds of dollars for a selfie isn’t as easy as you’d think.2020 July 28, “Paying for porn: How much is appropriate?”, in Slate Magazine:
Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety.c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.1769, Bible, Authorised King James Version, Oxford standard text, Romans, xiii, 7
Etymology PIE word *ḱóm PIE word *swé From Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, inherited from Latin consuētūdinem, a noun derived from cōnsuēscō, from con- (“with”) + suēscō (“become used or accustomed to”). Displaced native Old English ġewuna. Doublet of costume, consuetude, and kastom. The adjectival form first appears c. 1830.
1
Made or done in a way adjusted to fit the needs of a particular person or group (e.g., customer, health care patient, do-it-yourselfer), and thus specialized and, in some cases, unique.
Near-synonyms: custom-made, tailored, tailor-made, custom-built, purpose-built; see also Thesaurus:custom-made
My feet are very large, so I need custom shoes, specially made by a custom tailor.
2
Own, personal, not standard or premade.
We can embroider a wide range of ready designs or a custom logo.
3
Agriculture, Business, LifestyleEspecially Done on a for-hire basis, as contrasted with being done only for oneself.
custom threshing
custom baling
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The amount of high-end equipment that he maintains is justified by the fact that he does a lot of custom tillage and combining.
My grandfather did his own threshing, plus a bunch of custom threshing on the side.
Custom harvesters have a front row seat to crop conditions as they make their way across the country, helping farmers get their crops out of the fields. […] Wheat harvests got off to a slow start in Texas and Oklahoma this year, with rain delays, but conditions got better once custom harvesters made it to Kansas.2025 December 4, “Custom Harvesters Wrap Up Harvest Season”, in AgWeekTV:
Etymology PIE word *ḱóm PIE word *swé From Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, inherited from Latin consuētūdinem, a noun derived from cōnsuēscō, from con- (“with”) + suēscō (“become used or accustomed to”). Displaced native Old English ġewuna. Doublet of costume, consuetude, and kastom. The adjectival form first appears c. 1830.
a. 1771 (written, published posthumously) Thomas Gray, Agrippina Have not forgot your sire; the eye of Rome And the Prætorian camp have long revered, With customed awe the daughter, sister, wife, And mother of their Cæsars
But yet a man might reply, that if a Shooemaker ſhould haue no Shooes in his Shoppe, but onely worke, as hee is beſpoken, hee ſhould bee weakley cuſtomed.1605, Francis Bacon, “The Second Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 52, recto:
Barabas, thy ships are safe, Riding in Malta Rhode; and all the merchants With other merchandize are safe arriv'd, And have sent me to know whether yourself Will come and custom them.c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act I:
For on a Bridge he cuſtometh to fight, / Which is but narrow, but exceeding long; / And in the ſame are many trap fals pight, / Through which the rider downe doth fall through ouerſight.1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book V, Canto II”, in The Faerie Queene. […], part II (books IV–VI), London: […] [Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC, stanza 7, page 198: