Habit vs. Custom: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Habit is a regular, often unconscious pattern of behavior. Custom is A traditional or habitual practice within a community.
Key Differences
A habit is a personal behavior pattern developed through frequent repetition. It's an individual's routine action, often performed unconsciously. For instance, brushing your teeth every morning is a habit. On the other hand, a custom is a collective practice or tradition that is followed by a group of people, often specific to a particular culture or society. An example of a custom is celebrating national holidays.
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Dec 04, 2023
Habits are usually individual and vary from person to person, reflecting personal choices and lifestyle. For example, jogging every evening can be a person's habit. Customs, however, are shared and practiced by groups, representing collective identity and social norms, like shaking hands when meeting someone.
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Dec 04, 2023
Habits are formed through repeated actions and can be changed or broken with effort and conscious choice. For example, a person can develop a habit of reading before bed. Customs are more enduring, often passed down through generations, and change more slowly over time. An example is traditional wedding ceremonies in various cultures.
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Dec 04, 2023
Many habits are performed without conscious thought, becoming automatic or reflexive. For example, checking your phone frequently might be an unconscious habit. Customs are performed with a degree of awareness and intention, often to uphold cultural values or social norms, such as gift-giving during holidays.
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Dec 04, 2023
The scope of a habit is usually personal and affects the individual's daily life. For instance, a habit of drinking coffee every morning affects one's personal routine. Customs have a broader social scope, influencing societal interactions and cultural practices, like the custom of tipping in restaurants.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Habit and Custom Definitions
Habit
A habit is a regular, often automatic action or behavior pattern.
Her habit of jogging every morning contributed to her excellent health.
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Dec 04, 2023
Custom
A custom is a traditional practice or usual way of doing something within a culture.
The custom of giving gifts during Christmas is widely observed.
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Dec 04, 2023
Habit
A habit is an individual's customary way of behaving.
It was his habit to read the newspaper with his breakfast.
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Dec 04, 2023
Custom
A custom is a conventional, socially accepted practice or behavior.
In many societies, it is a custom to shake hands when meeting someone.
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Dec 04, 2023
Habit
A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition
Made a habit of going to bed early.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Custom
A custom is a ritual or habituation followed by a community.
Wearing black at funerals is a custom in many cultures.
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Dec 04, 2023
Habit
An established disposition of the mind or character
A pessimistic habit.
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
A custom is a practice or tradition shared by a group of people.
The custom of celebrating national holidays varies from country to country.
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Dec 04, 2023
Custom
A traditional practice or usual way of doing something followed by a social group or people.
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
The tradition or body of such practices
The respect that is by custom accorded to the king.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
Characteristic appearance, form, or manner of growth, especially of a plant or crystal
"The habit of an apple tree is fine for the small garden" (Robert Dash).
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
A habitual practice of a person
My custom of reading a little before sleep.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
A distinctive set of clothing or style of dressing, especially of a religious order.
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
(Law) A common tradition or usage so long established that it has the force or validity of law.
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
Habitual patronage, as of a store
Tried to obtain the custom of the wealthiest shoppers.
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Custom
Duties or taxes imposed on imported and, less commonly, exported goods.
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Custom
(used with a sing. verb) The governmental agency authorized to collect these duties.
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Habit
An action performed on a regular basis.
It’s become a habit of mine to have a cup of coffee after dinner.
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
(used with a sing. verb) The place where goods and baggage entering a country are inspected by this agency
Go through customs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
An action performed repeatedly and automatically, usually without awareness.
By force of habit, he dressed for work even though it was holiday.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
A long piece of clothing worn by monks and nuns.
It’s interesting how Catholic and Buddhist monks both wear habits.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
A piece of clothing worn for a specific activity; a uniform.
The new riding habits of the team looked smashing!
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Custom
Specializing in the making or selling of made-to-order goods
A custom tailor.
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Custom
Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving.
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Habit
Form of growth or general appearance and structure of a variety or species of plant or crystal.
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Custom
(collectively) The habitual patrons (i.e. customers) of a business; business support.
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Custom
(legal) Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent. Compare prescription.
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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.
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Habit
The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
Fixed or established custom; ordinary course of conduct; practice; usage; hence, prominently, the involuntary tendency or aptitude to perform certain actions which is acquired by their frequent repetition; as, habit is second nature; also, peculiar ways of acting; characteristic forms of behavior.
A man of very shy, retired habits.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
Outward appearance; attire; dress; hence, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit.
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy.
There are, among the statues, several of Venus, in different habits.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Habit
The distinctive clothing worn commonly by nuns or monks; as, in the late 1900's many orders of nuns discarded their habits and began to dress as ordinary lay women.
How use doth breed a habit in a man!
He who reigns . . . upheld by old repute,Consent, or custom
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
Own, personal, not standard or premade.
We can embroider a wide range of ready designs or a custom logo.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
To dress; to clothe; to array.
They habited themselves like those rural deities.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
A pattern of behavior acquired through frequent repetition;
She had a habit twirling the ends of her hair
Long use had hardened him to it
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
(religion) a distinctive attire (as the costume of a religious order)
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and Prescription.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
A habit is an action done frequently and usually unconsciously.
Biting her nails was a nervous habit she couldn't break.
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Dec 04, 2023
Custom
Familiar aquaintance; familiarity.
Age can not wither her, nor custom staleHer infinite variety.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
A habit is a tendency or practice developed over time.
He had a habit of arriving exactly on time for every appointment.
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Dec 04, 2023
Custom
The customary toll, tax, or tribute.
Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom.
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Oct 19, 2023
Habit
A habit is a regular practice or activity in one's daily routine.
Drinking coffee in the morning is a common habit among adults.
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Dec 04, 2023
Custom
Duties or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or exported.
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
Habitual patronage;
I have given this tailor my custom for many years
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Oct 19, 2023
Custom
A custom is a long-established way of doing something within a group or society.
It is a custom in her family to have a large reunion every summer.
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Dec 04, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is a custom?
A custom is a traditional or habitual practice within a community or culture.
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Dec 04, 2023
How is a habit formed?
A habit is formed through frequent and repeated actions.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is a habit always conscious?
No, many habits are formed and performed unconsciously.
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Dec 04, 2023
Do customs vary across cultures?
Yes, customs can vary greatly across different cultures and societies.
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Dec 04, 2023
How do customs influence behavior?
Customs influence behavior by setting societal expectations and norms.
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Dec 04, 2023
What is a habit?
A habit is a regular, often automatic behavior pattern developed through repetition.
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Dec 04, 2023
Are customs important in society?
Yes, customs are important as they reflect cultural values and societal norms.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can habits be changed?
Yes, habits can be changed with conscious effort and persistence.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can a habit become a custom?
Rarely, if a personal habit becomes widely adopted, it can evolve into a custom.
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Dec 04, 2023
Do habits reflect personality?
Yes, habits can reflect aspects of an individual's personality and lifestyle.
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Dec 04, 2023
What role do customs play in identity?
Customs play a significant role in shaping cultural and social identity.
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Dec 04, 2023
What's an example of a bad habit?
Smoking is a common example of a harmful habit.
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Dec 04, 2023
Can customs conflict with modern values?
Sometimes customs can conflict with modern values, leading to cultural debates.
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Dec 04, 2023
Why do customs differ globally?
Customs differ due to cultural, historical, and geographical variations.
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Dec 04, 2023
What's an example of a positive habit?
Regular exercise is an example of a positive habit.
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Dec 04, 2023
Is breaking a habit difficult?
Breaking a habit can be challenging as it requires changing established behaviors.
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Dec 04, 2023
Are customs legally binding?
Customs are not usually legally binding, but they are socially significant.
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Dec 04, 2023
Do customs change over time?
Customs can evolve and change over time, though usually more slowly than habits.
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Dec 04, 2023
How are customs preserved?
Customs are preserved through cultural practices, teachings, and celebrations.
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Dec 04, 2023
How do personal habits affect health?
Personal habits can have a significant impact on physical and mental health.
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Dec 04, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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