- [countable, uncountable] an accepted way of behaving or of doing things in a society or a community
- It's a local custom.
- an ancient custom
- a burial/marriage custom
- a tribal custom
- She grew up with Chinese customs and traditions.
- according to custom According to custom, one son inherited all the family property.
- custom of doing something Widows observed the custom of wearing black.
- it is the custom for somebody to do something It is the custom in that country for women to marry young.
Extra ExamplesTopics Religion and festivalsb1- The custom died out in the nineteenth 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.
- 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 unfamiliar with local customs and culture.
- the custom of giving presents at Christmas
- Guyanese custom dictates that the child be given a piece of gold jewellery for good luck soon after birth.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- accepted
- age-old
- ancient
- …
- follow
- observe
- practise/practice
- …
- die out
- disappear
- prevail
- …
- according to a/the custom
- in accordance with (a/the) custom
- through custom
- …
- as is/was the custom
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- [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.
Extra Examples- It is my custom to keep my word.
- They were seated, as was their custom, in the summer house.
- He then repeated the question, as his custom was.
- [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 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’.
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