Standard Lemma guide

customary

adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈkʌs.tə.m(ə.)ɹi/
  • US: /ˈkʌs.təˌmɛɹ.i/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: K AH1 S T AH0 M EH2 R IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

In accordance with, or established by, custom or common usage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: conventional, habitual, traditional, halal, homodox, kosher, orthodox, by the book, allowed, customary, natural, official, proper, routine

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Holding or held by custom.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • customary tenants

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A book containing laws and usages, or customs; a custumal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

commonly used or practiced; usual

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • his accustomed thoroughness
  • took his customary morning walk
  • his habitual comment
  • with her wonted candor

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: accustomed, habitual, wonted(a)

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

in accordance with convention or custom

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • sealed the deal with the customary handshake

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English custumary, from Medieval Latin custumarius. By surface analysis, custom + -ary.

Across languages

Translations

48 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bengali: রেওয়াজী (reōẇaji) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Bulgarian: обичаен (običaen) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • French: habituel — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • French: d'usage — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • French: coutumier — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • German: üblich — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Greek: εθιμικός (ethimikós) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Ancient Greek: νόμιμος (nómimos) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Hebrew: מְקֻבָּל (mequbál) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Hindi: प्रथागत (prathāgat) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Hindi: परंपरागत (paramprāgat) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Hindi: पारंपरिक (pāramprik) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Hungarian: szokásos — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Hungarian: megszokott — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Ido: kustumala — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Indonesian: beradat — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Irish: iondúil — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Irish: gnásúil — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Italian: consueto — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Latin: solitus — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Latin: ūsitātus — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Occitan: costumièr — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Occitan: abitual — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Occitan: usual — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Russian: обы́чный (obýčnyj) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Russian: привы́чный (privýčnyj) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Spanish: acostumbrado — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Spanish: consuetudinario — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Spanish: consueto — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Swedish: bruklig — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Turkish: alışılagelmiş — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Turkish: alışılagelen — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Ottoman Turkish: مسنون (mesnun) — agreeing with, or established by, custom
  • Bengali: রেওয়াজী (reōẇaji) — holding or held by custom
  • Bulgarian: обичаен (običaen) — holding or held by custom
  • French: coutumier — holding or held by custom
  • Hindi: पारंपरिक (pāramprik) — holding or held by custom
  • Hindi: परंपरागत (paramprāgat) — holding or held by custom
  • Hungarian: obligát — holding or held by custom
  • Hungarian: elmaradhatatlan — holding or held by custom
  • Ido: kustumala — holding or held by custom
  • Indonesian: beradat — holding or held by custom
  • Spanish: consuetudinario — holding or held by custom
  • Spanish: sólito — holding or held by custom
  • Swedish: av hävd — holding or held by custom
  • French: coutumier — a book containing laws and usages, or customs
  • Welsh: llyfr arferion — a book containing laws and usages, or customs
  • Welsh: arferlyfr — a book containing laws and usages, or customs
Real reading context

customary in complete knowledge articles