noun B1 Intermediate Common

customs

KUHS-tuhmz

Customs (noun) means taxes charged on goods brought into or out of a country, or the government department that collects them. Example: “We had to declare the wine at customs.”

noun

Taxes charged on goods brought into or out of a country, or the government department that collects them.

"We had to declare the wine at customs."

"The package was held up in customs for a week."

How to Use Customs

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe border checkpoint and taxes involved in bringing goods into a country.

Common pairings

go through customs customs officer customs duty

Word Forms

customs plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “customs” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

We had to declare the wine at _____.

Etymology

The plural of custom, in its older sense of "toll" or "tax."

Synonyms

View more →

duty tariff levy toll excise import tax

Related Words

right price tax charge function duty responsibility task

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “customs” mean?

The word “customs” means taxes charged on goods brought into or out of a country, or the government department that collects them. In plain terms, the border checkpoint and taxes involved in bringing goods into a country.

How do you pronounce “customs”?

“Customs” is pronounced KUHS-tuhmz (/ˈkʌs.təmz/ in IPA).

How do you use “customs” in a sentence?

Here is “customs” used in a sentence: “We had to declare the wine at customs.”

What part of speech is “customs”?

“Customs” is a noun.

Is “customs” a common word?

“Customs” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

What is the difference between customs and tariffs?

A tariff is the tax rate or schedule of charges applied to imported goods. Customs refers to the duties actually charged on goods crossing a border, or to the government department that collects them, so the tariff sets the rate and customs enforces it.

What is the difference between customs and immigration?

Customs deals with goods, inspecting items and collecting duties on what people bring into a country. Immigration deals with people, checking passports, visas, and the right to enter, so at a border the two functions handle different things.

What is the difference between customs and excise?

Customs are duties charged on goods crossing a country's borders, whether imported or exported. Excise is a tax on certain goods produced or sold within the country itself, such as alcohol or tobacco.

Is 'customs' singular or plural?

In this sense customs takes an -s form but is often treated as singular, as in 'customs is closed today.' It refers to the taxes collectively or to the single government department that collects them.

People Also Searched

right price tax charge function duty responsibility task