Looking up...
customs
/ˈkʌstəmz/
What does "customs" mean in English?
official duties and taxes on imports/exportsThe customs officer checked our luggage at the airport.
An official inspected our bags for prohibited items and taxes.
How to use "customs" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
formal
official duties and taxes imposed on goods when entering or leaving a country
The company paid high customs fees for the imported machinery.
The business incurred significant import taxes for the equipment.
Also refers to the government agency responsible for collecting these duties.
informal
traditional practices or habits of a particular group or society
In some cultures, it's customary to remove shoes before entering a home.
Many societies have the tradition of taking off footwear indoors.
Often used in the plural form to describe cultural norms.
Collocations
customs dutiestaxes on imported/exported goodscustoms officergovernment official who inspects goodscustoms declarationform listing items for inspection
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context Matters
Determine whether 'customs' refers to taxes or traditions based on the surrounding words.
Gold Rule
Plural Usage
When referring to cultural practices, 'customs' is almost always plural.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'custume,' from Old French 'coustume,' from Latin 'consuetudo' (custom, habit).
Usage Notes
The word can refer to both government-imposed taxes and cultural traditions, depending on context.
Word Breakdown
custom
habit or tradition
root-s
plural marker
suffixEnglish Dictionary