customs
B2Neutral, formal in official contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The government agency responsible for controlling the flow of goods into and out of a country, including collecting duties on imports; the duties (taxes) collected on imported goods.
The area at a border, airport, or port where officials inspect goods and luggage. In some formal/literary contexts, can refer to habitual practices or traditions (archaic/plural of 'custom').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively used as a plural noun when referring to the authority or the process ('go through customs'). The singular 'custom' refers to a tradition or habitual practice; the two are distinct words in modern usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the term identically for border control. The place/process is slightly more frequently called 'Customs and Excise' historically in the UK, while US uses 'U.S. Customs and Border Protection'.
Connotations
Similar connotations of official bureaucracy, potential delay, and legal necessity in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency in travel and trade contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
declare [item] to customsgo through customsclear goods through customsbe stopped by customsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing to declare”
- “A clean bill of health from customs”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential in import/export: 'We need to calculate the customs duties before shipping.'
Academic
Used in economics/political science: 'The study examined the impact of customs unions on trade flows.'
Everyday
Travel context: 'The queue at customs took an hour.'
Technical
Logistics/supply chain: 'The customs broker handled the documentation.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The shipment has been customs-cleared.
- Goods must be customs-cleared before release.
American English
- The broker will customs-clear the container.
- It's a customs-cleared cargo.
adjective
British English
- He works for the Customs and Excise department.
- We need a customs declaration form.
American English
- She is a Customs and Border Protection officer.
- The customs duty was higher than expected.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We showed our passports at customs.
- Do you have anything to declare for customs?
- Make sure your customs declaration form is filled in correctly.
- The officer at customs asked to see inside my suitcase.
- High-value goods may be subject to significant customs duties.
- The new trade agreement simplified the customs procedures between the two countries.
- Intellectual property rights enforcement has become a growing priority for customs authorities worldwide.
- The company hired a specialist to navigate the complex customs regulations for pharmaceutical imports.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CUSTOMS are the rules and taxes you must CUSTOMarily follow when crossing a border.
Conceptual Metaphor
CUSTOMS AS A GATEKEEPER/GATEWAY (controls what passes through).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'обычаи' (traditions). Это 'таможня'.
- Перевод 'customs duty' как 'таможенная пошлина', а не просто 'налог'.
- Конструкция 'go through customs' не переводится дословно, а как 'проходить таможенный контроль'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'custom' (singular) to mean the agency: 'We waited at the custom.'
- Treating it as uncountable: 'The customs is very slow.' (Often treated as plural: 'The customs are...').
- Confusing 'customs' (agency) with 'habit'.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'customs' primarily refer to in an airport?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is grammatically plural when referring to the authority ('Customs are inspecting...'), but often treated as singular in certain constructions ('Customs is a necessary step'). Both are acceptable.
'Customs' is the authority or process; 'duty' (or 'customs duty') is the specific tax imposed on imported goods.
Not in modern everyday English. That meaning is covered by the singular 'custom'. 'Customs' (plural) almost exclusively refers to border/tax control, except in some historical or literary texts.
You must declare items that exceed duty-free allowances (e.g., alcohol, tobacco, cash over a limit), restricted/prohibited goods, and commercial merchandise.