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: “Customs officers checked every suitcase at the border for goods that should have been declared.”
noun
1
Taxes charged on goods brought into or out of a country, or the government department that collects them.
"Customs officers checked every suitcase at the border for goods that should have been declared."
"We had to declare the wine at customs."
"The package was held up in customs for a week."
"Customs stopped us in the airport for an inspection."
How to use customs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe border checkpoint and taxes involved in bringing goods into a country.
Common pairings
go through customs
customs officer
customs duty
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Word forms
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_____ officers checked every suitcase at the border for goods that should have been declared.
Etymology
The plural of custom, in its older sense of "toll" or "tax."
Related words
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.
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