Definition

1. Noun:
   • A government building where customs duties are collected and where ships are cleared to enter or leave a country: A "customhouse" is the official office or building where customs officials work. Their duties include inspecting imported goods, collecting taxes (tariffs or duties) on those goods, and processing the legal paperwork for ships and cargo to enter or leave a port.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The merchant went to the customhouse to declare his imported goods and pay the required duties.
  • In the 19th century, the city's customhouse was one of the busiest and most important buildings in the port.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The term "customhouse" is often associated with historical trade and maritime commerce. Many old port cities have historic customhouse buildings that are now museums or tourist attractions.
  • The old customhouse on the waterfront now serves as a maritime museum.

Variants and Related Words

• Customs (noun): The government agency or service responsible for controlling the flow of goods into and out of a country and collecting duties. This is the broader administrative concept, while a "customhouse" is a specific building.
  • We had to go through customs at the airport.
• Customs officer (noun): An official who works for the customs service.
  • The customs officer inspected our luggage.

Synonyms

• Customs house: This is a common variant spelling and is synonymous.
• Customs office: A more modern and general term for the administrative office, though it may not always refer to a specific historic building.
• Duty office: A less common term focusing on the collection of duties.

Related Phrases

• To clear customs: This is the process a ship, plane, or person goes through to get official permission from customs officials to enter a country.
  • The ship will dock once it has cleared customs.
• Customs declaration: The official form listing goods being imported and their value.
  • You must fill out a customs declaration form.

Noun

1. a government building where customs are collected and where ships are cleared to enter or leave the country