# customs

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkʌs.təmz/ · frequency rank #5,208

## Definitions
1. The duties or taxes imposed on imported or exported goods.
2. The government department or agency that is authorised to collect the taxes imposed on imported goods.
3. The process of going through customs checks at a border checkpoint.
4. The location at a border checkpoint where customs checks are carried out.

## Etymology
Plural of custom. Perhaps influenced by or taken as a corruption of customhouse, from Middle English custome hous.

## Easily confused with
- **custom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/custom-vs-customs)
- **custody** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/custody-vs-customs)
- **customer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/customer-vs-customs)
- **customers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/customers-vs-customs)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ccustoms`, `csutoms`, `cusotms`, `cusstoms`, `custmos`, `customms`, `customss`, `custosm`, `custtoms`, `cutsoms`, `ucstoms`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/customs