Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • Taxes or duties imposed by a government on imported or exported goods: "customs" refers to the money collected by a government on goods crossing its national borders.
   • The government agency responsible for collecting these duties and controlling the flow of goods: "customs" can also refer to the administrative authority that enforces these laws at ports, airports, and borders.

Usage Examples

• Noun (plural):
  • We had to pay high customs on the luxury items we brought back.
  • The customs at the airport inspected our luggage for prohibited goods.
  • All international packages must clear customs before delivery.

Advanced Usage

• "To clear customs": to complete the official process of having goods inspected and approved by the customs authority.
  • It took two hours for our shipment to clear customs.
• "Customs declaration": a form on which a traveler or shipper lists the items they are bringing into a country.
  • You must fill out a customs declaration form upon arrival.
• "Customs duty": a synonym for the tax or tariff itself.
  • The customs duty on electronics is 10%.

Variants and Related Words

• Customary (adj): based on or established by custom or tradition; usual.
  • It is customary to shake hands when you meet someone.
• Custom (noun): a traditional and widely accepted way of behaving or doing something that is specific to a particular society, place, or time.
  • It is a local custom to celebrate the harvest with a festival.

Synonyms

• Duty: A tax levied on imports or exports.
• Tariff: A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.
• Impost: A tax, especially a customs duty.

Related Phrases

• Customs union: A group of countries that have agreed to charge the same import duties and usually allow free trade between themselves.
  • The countries formed a customs union to boost regional trade.
• Customs broker: A professional who helps individuals and companies meet federal regulations for importing and exporting goods.
  • We hired a customs broker to handle the complex paperwork.

Noun

1. money collected under a tariff