customary

comparative more customary · superlative most customary

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

   When two people met for the first time in Diaspar—or even for the hundredth—it was customary to spend an hour or so in an exchange or courtesies before getting down to business, if any.

   1956, Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars, page 39

   3 more examples

   At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors.[…]In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.

   1892, Walter Besant, chapter III, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

   "If you're accused of profiling or pretextual stops, you can bring your daily logbook to court and document that pulling over motorists for 'stickler' reasons is part of your customary pattern," Remsberg writes, "not a glaring exception conveniently dusted off in the defendant's case."

   2019, Malcolm Gladwell, Talking to Strangers

   As Trevor Corson, author of “The Story of Sushi” explains, in Japan, sushi is typically eaten at a bar, where it’s customary for the customer to chat with the chef, who can recommend what’s in season. The short window during which the fish is fresh also makes it more likely to be tastier in Japan.

   2023 June 15, Rebecca Wallwork, “‘You had to be there’: Foods that taste better on home turf”, in CNN

   Synonyms: conventional, habitual, traditional, halal, homodox, kosher, orthodox, by the book

2. Holding or held by custom.

   customary tenants

   1 more example

   The tenants are chiefly customary and heriotable.

   1777, Joseph Nicolson, Richard Burn, The history and antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland

plural customaries

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