Custom vs. Culture — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 1, 2023
Custom is a specific practice or tradition of a group, while culture encompasses the beliefs, behaviors, and values characteristic of a community or society.
Difference Between Custom and Culture
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Custom and culture are both essential aspects of human societies, but they function on different levels. A custom is a specific, established practice or way of doing things, typically one that has persisted for some time within a community. Culture, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses the entirety of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that the members of a society use to cope with the world and with one another.
When we talk about custom, we often refer to a particular activity, ritual, or behavior that is regularly practiced by a group. For instance, a specific community might have the custom of greeting each other with a particular gesture or phrase. On the contrary, culture is the umbrella under which many customs, practices, and beliefs exist. It's a collective term that describes the way of life of a particular group of people, including their customs.
Every culture consists of various customs. For example, American culture might be characterized by values such as individualism, freedom, and democracy, but within this culture, there are customs like celebrating Thanksgiving or the practice of tipping in restaurants. Meanwhile, the term "culture" can encompass everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, and arts, representing the broader societal framework in which various customs fit.
In essence, customs are like pieces of a puzzle, each one contributing to the bigger picture of culture. While customs can be tangible and specific actions or rituals, culture is an intangible web of shared meanings and understandings that inform and are informed by these customs.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A specific practice or tradition within a group.
The beliefs, behaviors, and values of a community or society.
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Scope
Narrower, pertains to specific practices.
Broader, encompasses many elements, including customs.
Duration
Can be short-lived or long-standing.
Generally persists over longer periods and evolves slowly.
Function
Demonstrates specific behaviors or rituals of a group.
Represents the overall way of life and identity of a group.
Examples
Specific rituals, habits, or celebrations.
Language, art, beliefs, customs, and social organization.
Compare with Definitions
Custom
A habitual practice of individuals.
It's his custom to read before bed.
Culture
The shared patterns of behaviors and interactions of a society.
Global travel exposes you to various cultures.
Custom
A traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time
Custom demanded that a person should have gifts for the child
The old English custom of dancing round the maypole
Culture
The ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society.
The youth are the bearers of future culture.
Custom
Regular dealings with a shop or business by customers
If you keep me waiting, I will take my custom elsewhere
Culture
The cultivation or development of something, often related to arts or sciences.
She's deeply involved in the culture of classical music.
Custom
Made or done to order; custom-made
A custom guitar
Culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Humans acquire culture through the learning processes of enculturation and socialization, which is shown by the diversity of cultures across societies. A cultural norm codifies acceptable conduct in society; it serves as a guideline for behavior, dress, language, and demeanor in a situation, which serves as a template for expectations in a social group.
Custom
A traditional practice or usual way of doing something followed by a social group or people.
Culture
The arts, beliefs, customs, institutions, and other products of human work and thought considered as a unit, especially with regard to a particular time or social group
Edwardian culture.
Japanese culture.
Custom
The tradition or body of such practices
The respect that is by custom accorded to the king.
Culture
These arts, beliefs, and other products considered with respect to a particular subject or mode of expression
Musical culture.
Oral culture.
Custom
A habitual practice of a person
My custom of reading a little before sleep.
Culture
The set of predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize a group or organization
A manager who changed the corporate culture.
Custom
Habitual manner or practice
I am not by custom a coffee drinker.
Culture
Mental refinement and sophisticated taste resulting from the appreciation of the arts and sciences
A woman of great culture.
Custom
(Law) A common tradition or usage so long established that it has the force or validity of law.
Culture
Special training and development
Voice culture for singers and actors.
Custom
Habitual patronage, as of a store
Tried to obtain the custom of the wealthiest shoppers.
Culture
The cultivation of soil; tillage
The culture of the soil.
Custom
Duties or taxes imposed on imported and, less commonly, exported goods.
Culture
The breeding or cultivation of animals or plants for food, the improvement of stock, or other purposes.
Custom
(used with a sing. verb) The governmental agency authorized to collect these duties.
Culture
The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium.
Custom
(used with a sing. verb) The place where goods and baggage entering a country are inspected by this agency
Go through customs.
Culture
Such a growth or colony, as of bacteria.
Custom
Tribute, service, or rent paid by a feudal tenant to a lord.
Culture
To cultivate (soil or plants).
Custom
Made to order
Custom suits.
Culture
To grow (microorganisms or other living matter) in a specially prepared nutrient medium.
Custom
Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods
A custom tailor.
Culture
To use (a substance) as a medium for culture
Culture milk.
Custom
Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
Culture
The arts, customs, lifestyles, background, and habits that characterize humankind, or a particular society or nation.
Custom
Habitual buying of goods from one same vendor.
Culture
The beliefs, values, behaviour and material objects that constitute a people's way of life.
Custom
(collectively) The habitual patrons (i.e. customers) of a business; business support.
Culture
The conventional conducts and ideologies of a community; the system comprising the accepted norms and values of a society.
Custom
(legal) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription.
Culture
(anthropology) Any knowledge passed from one generation to the next, not necessarily with respect to human beings.
Custom
Traditional beliefs or rituals.
The Ancient Egyptian culture had many distinctive and interesting beliefs and customs; one custom was the mummification of the dead.
Culture
(botany) Cultivation.
Custom
A custom (made-to-order) piece of art, pornography, etc.
Culture
(microbiology) The process of growing a bacterial or other biological entity in an artificial medium.
Custom
(obsolete) Familiar acquaintance; familiarity.
Culture
The growth thus produced.
I'm headed to the lab to make sure my cell culture hasn't died.
Custom
Toll, tax, or tribute.
Culture
A group of bacteria.
Custom
Created under particular specifications, specially to fit one's needs: specialized, unique, custom-made.
My feet are very large, so I need custom shoes.
Culture
(cartography) The details on a map that do not represent natural features of the area delineated, such as names and the symbols for towns, roads, meridians, and parallels.
Custom
Own, personal, not standard or premade.
We can embroider a wide range of ready designs or a custom logo.
Culture
(archaeology) A recurring assemblage of artifacts from a specific time and place that may constitute the material culture remains of a particular past human society.
Custom
(archaic) Accustomed; usual.
Culture
(euphemism) Ethnicity, race (and its associated arts, customs, etc.)
Custom
To make familiar; to accustom.
Culture
(transitive) to maintain in an environment suitable for growth especially of bacteria cultivate}}
Custom
To supply with customers.
Culture
(transitive) to increase the artistic or scientific interest in something cultivate}}
Custom
To pay the customs of.
Culture
The act or practice of cultivating, or of preparing the earth for seed and raising crops by tillage; as, the culture of the soil.
Custom
To have a custom.
Culture
The act of, or any labor or means employed for, training, disciplining, or refining the moral and intellectual nature of man; as, the culture of the mind.
If vain our toilWe ought to blame the culture, not the soil.
Custom
Frequent repetition of the same act; way of acting common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method of doing or living.
And teach customs which are not lawful.
Moved beyond his custom, Gama said.
A customMore honored in the breach than the observance.
Culture
The state of being cultivated; result of cultivation; physical improvement; enlightenment and discipline acquired by mental and moral training; civilization; refinement in manners and taste.
What the Greeks expressed by their paidei`a, the Romans by their humanitas, we less happily try to express by the more artificial word culture.
The list of all the items of the general life of a people represents that whole which we call its culture.
Custom
Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop, manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business support.
Let him have your custom, but not your votes.
Culture
The cultivation of bacteria or other organisms (such as fungi or eukaryotic cells from mulitcellular organisms) in artificial media or under artificial conditions.
Custom
Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription.
Culture
Those details of a map, collectively, which do not represent natural features of the area delineated, as names and the symbols for towns, roads, houses, bridges, meridians, and parallels.
Custom
Familiar aquaintance; familiarity.
Age can not wither her, nor custom staleHer infinite variety.
Culture
To cultivate; to educate.
They came . . . into places well inhabited and cultured.
Custom
The customary toll, tax, or tribute.
Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom.
Culture
A particular society at a particular time and place;
Early Mayan civilization
Custom
Duties or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported.
Culture
The tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group
Custom
To make familiar; to accustom.
Culture
All the knowledge and values shared by a society
Custom
To supply with customers.
Culture
(biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar);
The culture of cells in a Petri dish
Custom
To have a custom.
On a bridge he custometh to fight.
Culture
(bacteriology) the product of cultivating micro-organisms in a nutrient medium
Custom
To pay the customs of.
Culture
A highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality;
They performed with great polish
I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose
Almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art
Custom
Accepted or habitual practice
Culture
The attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization;
The developing drug culture
The reason that the agency is doomed to inaction has something to do with the FBI culture
Custom
A specific practice of long standing
Culture
The raising of plants or animals;
The culture of oysters
Custom
Money collected under a tariff
Culture
The beliefs, customs, and way of life of a particular group.
Japanese culture places great importance on respect and honor.
Custom
Habitual patronage;
I have given this tailor my custom for many years
Culture
The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement.
The city is known for its rich culture and history.
Custom
Made according to the specifications of an individual
Custom
A traditional practice or behavior regularly followed by a group.
It's a local custom to dance around the bonfire.
Custom
An established way of doing something.
The custom of shaking hands as a greeting is widespread.
Custom
A tradition passed down through generations.
It's our family's custom to gather for dinner on Sundays.
Custom
A long-established action considered as unwritten law.
By custom, the eldest child inherits the property.
Common Curiosities
How does culture influence one's identity?
Culture shapes beliefs, values, behaviors, and customs, influencing individual and group identities.
Are customs always positive?
No, some customs can be harmful or outdated and might need reevaluation.
How is custom different from habit?
A custom is a group's shared practice, while a habit is an individual's repeated behavior.
Can a custom change over time?
Yes, customs can evolve or fade based on societal changes or external influences.
Is language part of culture?
Yes, language is a significant component of culture, influencing communication and shared meanings.
Can a culture exist without customs?
No, customs are integral components of a culture.
How does globalization impact culture?
Globalization can introduce new customs and ideas, influencing and sometimes blending cultures.
Why is understanding culture important?
Understanding culture fosters mutual respect, reduces misunderstandings, and promotes unity.
Can one belong to multiple cultures?
Yes, individuals can identify with and be influenced by multiple cultures.
How are customs transmitted?
Customs are often passed down through generations via oral traditions, rituals, or practices.
Are customs universally accepted within a culture?
Not always, customs can vary by regions or subgroups within a larger culture.
Can modernization threaten customs?
Yes, rapid modernization can sometimes overshadow or diminish traditional customs.
Are customs static or dynamic?
While customs can be long-standing, they are dynamic and can change over time.
How is culture preserved?
Culture is preserved through customs, education, storytelling, arts, and shared practices.
Is food a part of culture?
Yes, culinary customs and preferences are significant aspects of culture.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
