Standard Lemma guide

kastom

noun · 1 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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːstɒm/
  • General-American: /ˈkɑstɑm/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Traditional beliefs and values held, and culture practised, in modern times in Melanesia.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Papua-New-Guinea, uncountable

Qualifier: Solomon Islands; cultural anthropology; Solomon Islands; cultural anthropology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Bislama kastom or Tok Pisin kastom, both from English custom. Doublet of consuetude, costume, and custom.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bislama: kastom — traditional beliefs and values held, and culture practised, in modern times in Melanesia
  • Finnish: kastom — traditional beliefs and values held, and culture practised, in modern times in Melanesia
  • French: kastom — traditional beliefs and values held, and culture practised, in modern times in Melanesia
  • Italian: kastom — traditional beliefs and values held, and culture practised, in modern times in Melanesia
  • Tok Pisin: kastom — traditional beliefs and values held, and culture practised, in modern times in Melanesia