custom
How it's done
Custom is a habitual practice or long-established tradition within a group: It's our custom to open presents on Christmas Eve.
Customs in the plural refers to duties levied on imported goods, or the government agency that collects them: We went through customs at the airport.
As an adjective, custom means made to order rather than mass-produced: custom furniture, a custom suit.
The adjective often compounds: custom-built, custom-made.
Required moral task
- tariffTax on traded goods
- importObtain from overseas
- exportForeign-bound sale
- borderOuter edge or limit
declaration · levy · excise · smuggling · contraband · checkpoint · inspection · clearance
Inherited cultural legacy
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- festivalOrganized public celebration
celebration · rites · observance · legacy · protocol · etiquette · mores · convention
Made to individual specifications
- tailoredAdjusted to fit exactly
- made-to-orderCreated to individual specifications
- individualizedAdapted for one person
- one-of-a-kindHaving no equivalent
commissioned · personalization · configured · adapted · unique · exclusive · handcrafted · artisanal
Regular sequence of actions
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- habitualDone by routine
- regularityConsistent, predictable occurrence
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
norm · ingrained · second-nature · behavior · tendency · wont · manner · way
Quantified sizes or amounts
- seamstressOne who stitches garments
- tailorClothing alteration professional
- fabricWoven or knit material
- fittingSuitable or proper
alterations · bespoke · garment · dressmaker · sartorial · couture · hemming · inseam
Identical throughout
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- templatePreset pattern for reproduction
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- specificationDetailed technical requirement
protocol · guideline · criteria · ISO · compliance · conformity · mass-produced · generic
duty
Required moral task
border · declaration · levy · excise · smuggling · contraband · checkpoint · inspection · clearance · bonded
heritage
Inherited cultural legacy
festival · celebration · rites · observance · legacy · protocol · etiquette · mores · convention · pageantry
bespoke
Made to individual specifications
- tailoredAdjusted to fit exactly
- made-to-orderCreated to individual specifications
- individualizedAdapted for one person
one-of-a-kind · commissioned · personalization · configured · adapted · unique · exclusive · handcrafted · artisanal · monogrammed
routine
Regular sequence of actions
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- habitualDone by routine
- regularityConsistent, predictable occurrence
pattern · norm · ingrained · second-nature · behavior · tendency · wont · manner · way · usual
measurements
Quantified sizes or amounts
- seamstressOne who stitches garments
- tailorClothing alteration professional
- fabricWoven or knit material
fitting · alterations · bespoke · garment · dressmaker · sartorial · couture · hemming · inseam · draping
uniform
Identical throughout
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- templatePreset pattern for reproduction
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
specification · protocol · guideline · criteria · ISO · compliance · conformity · mass-produced · generic · boilerplate
folktale
Traditional narrative passed down
- legendUnverified traditional tale
- mythTraditional explanatory tale
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
ballad · chant · riddle · saga · epic · lore · superstition · archetype · motif · fable
- societysociety, class, citizen, social hierarchy, culture
- traditionstradition, cultural practices, rituals, heritage, observance
- cultural historyart history, music history, cultural artifacts, cultural memory, cultural movements
- custom-madepersonalized, bespoke, tailor-made, made-to-measure, handmade
- customizationpersonalize, personalizing, bespoke, tailor, tailor-made
- furniture traitswooden, upholstered, cushioned, padded, comfortable
custominnovation
Creating something original
novelty · departure · change · modernization · revolution
custommass-produced
Made in large quantities
ready-made · off-the-rack · off-the-shelf · standard · standardized
- customer serviceAssistance for buyers
- customer supportAssistance for buyers
- Easter customsRituals marking spring holiday
- the customer is always rightRetail principle favoring buyers
- customer reviewsBuyer assessments of products
- customs officerBorder control agent
customer, customs, customary, customers, accustomed, accustom, unaccustomed, customarily, customize