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customary

customary

70 3.5
Something done because of tradition or habit
  • adjective
  • /ˈkʌstəmˌɛri/
translation icon : habitual
  • You do understand, though, don't you, that it is customary in a eulogy to at least make reference to the deceased?
  • customary practice
  • customary law
  • customary rights

Tipping on rent When paying rent, what is customary to tip the landlord slash leasing company?

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Examples

  • On major holidays, Willis, it's customary for the lord of the manor to offer drippings to the poor.

  • The king sought forgiveness, explaining that due to his position in the east, he had little choice but to support Pompey with customary clemency.

  • It's customary that I have the first dance.

  • - You know it's customary for people to talk to each other while sitting at the same table.

  • We had gone to rural Pennsylvania high schools where the customary practices were followed.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • As is customary, the bulk of the estate will go to Patrick's wife, Maureen.

  • Under the circumstances, I suggest we dispense with the customary agenda and get to the essentials.

  • In a moment's notice, Tully and the others have resumed their customary servient roles.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • My definition also conforms with formulations that have now become customary within the Quebec community.

    Academic text (1999)
  • At weddings, it is customary for the bride and groom to share their first dance.

Synonyms

usual
vscustomary
1.0

Happening most of the time in a normal way

is tied to tradition and long social practice rather than mere frequency
traditional
vscustomary
994 1.5

Following long-held customs and ways of doing things

is focused on actions kept by tradition rather than being new
common
vscustomary
797 1.0

Happening often or seen in many places

is specifically shaped by tradition and shared practice rather than mere frequency
ordinary
vscustomary
683 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

is instead based on longstanding tradition and communal practice
standard
vscustomary
675 2.7

Generally used and accepted as correct

refers to practices passed down by tradition rather than technical models
everyday
vscustomary
276 1.0

Ordinary clothes or things used in daily life, not for special occasions

is used for actions based on long social practices rather than daily convenience
routine
vscustomary
263 1.0

Happening as a usual part of daily life

is rooted in long social practice rather than simply daily habit
conventional
vscustomary
175 2.8

Doing things in the usual way most people expect, not new or original

applies to things following accepted norms rather than recent innovation
commonplace
vscustomary
54 3.4

Ordinary and not special or new

relates to practices kept by tradition rather than plain ordinariness
habitual
vscustomary
28 4.0

Happens often in the same way

is grounded in community tradition rather than individual repetition
wonted
vscustomary
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A usual way of doing things or behaving

is about acts done because of tradition and wider community rules

Compounds

A system of measures in the United States using feet, pounds, and pints

How Usual

customary
70 3.5
regular
870 1.0
habitual
28 4.0
occasional
285 2.8
uncommon
122 4.6
rare
582 4.1

Surface Forms

customary positive

Morphology

customary = custom (transparent) = custom + ary

Standard adjective formation from the noun 'custom' with '-ary' yields 'relating to custom' which directly gives the meaning 'usual'.

Etymology

Customary comes from an old Latin word consuetudo, which means 'habit' or 'being used to'. The same idea is in the English word custom, so if something is customary it is what people usually do or expect by habit.