States times for customs (6)
I believe the answer is:
usages
'customs' is the definition.
(I know this)
'states times' is the wordplay.
'states' becomes 'US' (abbreviation for the United States).
'times' becomes 'ages' (age is a kind of time).
'us'+'ages'='USAGES'
'for' is the link.
(Other definitions for usages that I've seen before include "Habitual or customary practices" , "Customary treatments, practices" , "Customs." , "speech patterns" , "Habitual practices with words" .)