custom

/ˈkʌstəm/

//ˈkʌstəm// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"custom" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“custom” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,421 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#3,421
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

custom vs customs
86% similar
custom vs customer
75% similar
custom vs castor
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for custom
PropertyValue
Headwordcustom
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkʌstəm/
Letters6
Frequency rank#3,421
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “custom” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). custom lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for custom is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈkʌstəm/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,421 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 8 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for custom, with forms such as "ccustom", "csutom", and "cusotm". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "customs", "customer", "castor", and more, a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: PIE word *ḱóm PIE word *swé From Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, inherited from Latin consuētūdinem, a noun derived from cōnsuēscō, from con- (“with”) + suēscō (“become used or accustomed to”). Doublet of costume, consuetude, … The correct English form is custom, spelled C-U-S-T-O-M.

Definition

  1. 1
    Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
  2. 2
    Habitual buying of goods from one same vendor.
  3. 3
    Habitual buying of goods from one same vendor.
  4. 4
    Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription.
  5. 5
    Traditional beliefs or rituals.
  6. 6
    A custom (made-to-order) piece of art, etc.
  7. 7
    Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
  8. 8
    Toll, tax, or tribute.

Etymology

PIE word *ḱóm PIE word *swé From Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, inherited from Latin consuētūdinem, a noun derived from cōnsuēscō, from con- (“with”) + suēscō (“become used or accustomed to”). Doublet of costume, consuetude, and kastom. The adjectival form first appears c. 1830.

Synonyms

fashionfolkwayhabitpracticeusagewonewont

This word in other languages

habituación(Español)coutume(Français)Brauch(Deutsch)costume(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ccustom,csutom,cusotm,cusstom,custmo,customm,custtom,cutsom,ucstom

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of custom - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

ccustom1csutom2cusotm2cusstom1custmo2customm1custtom1cutsom2
Edit distance from "custom"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "custom"?
"custom" is spelled C-U-S-T-O-M. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkʌstəm/.
What does "custom" mean?
As a noun, "custom" means: Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
What words are commonly confused with "custom"?
"custom" is commonly confused with "customs", "customer", "castor". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "custom"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "custom" is /ˈkʌstəm/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "custom"?
PIE word *ḱóm PIE word *swé From Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, inherited from Latin consuētūdinem, a noun derived from cōnsuēscō, from con- (“with”) + suēscō (“become used or accustomed to”). Doublet of costume, co... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “custom”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-U-S-T-O-M - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkʌstəm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “customs” - see the side-by-side comparison. custom vs customs
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list