diff --git a/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/default_object_comparator_t.md b/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/default_object_comparator_t.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..265a9d385
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/default_object_comparator_t.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# <small>nlohmann::basic_json::</small>default_object_comparator_t
+
+```cpp
+using default_object_comparator_t = std::less<StringType>;  // until C++14
+
+using default_object_comparator_t = std::less<>;            // since C++14
+```
+
+The default comparator used by [`object_t`](object_t.md).
+
+Since C++14 a transparent comparator is used which prevents unnecessary string construction.
+
+The actual comparator used depends on [`object_t`](object_t.md) and can be obtained via
+[`object_comparator_t`](object_comparator_t.md).
+
+## Version history
+
+- Added in version 3.11.0.
diff --git a/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/index.md b/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/index.md
index 286fea2b4..68ac063ff 100644
--- a/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/index.md
+++ b/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/index.md
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ The class satisfies the following concept requirements:
 - [**array_t**](array_t.md) - type for arrays
 - [**binary_t**](binary_t.md) - type for binary arrays
 - [**boolean_t**](boolean_t.md) - type for booleans
+- [**default_object_comparator_t**](default_object_comparator_t.md) - default comparator for objects
 - [**number_float_t**](number_float_t.md) - type for numbers (floating-point)
 - [**number_integer_t**](number_integer_t.md) - type for numbers (integer)
 - [**number_unsigned_t**](number_unsigned_t.md) - type for numbers (unsigned)
diff --git a/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/object_comparator_t.md b/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/object_comparator_t.md
index e2bc79d05..6c64b6453 100644
--- a/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/object_comparator_t.md
+++ b/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/object_comparator_t.md
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 # <small>nlohmann::basic_json::</small>object_comparator_t
 
-```cpp
-using object_comparator_t = std::less<StringType>;  // until C++14
 
-using object_comparator_t = std::less<>;            // since C++14
+```cpp
+using object_comparator_t = typename object_t::key_compare;
+// or
+using object_comparator_t = default_object_comparator_t;
 ```
 
-The comparator used in [`object_t`](object_t.md).
-
-When C++14 is detected, a transparent comparator is used which, when combined with perfect forwarding on find() and
-count() calls, prevents unnecessary string construction.
+The comparator used by [`object_t`](object_t.md). Defined as `#!cpp typename object_t::key_compare` if available,
+and [`default_object_comparator_t`](default_object_comparator_t.md) otherwise.
 
 ## Version history
 
-- Unknown.
+- Added in version 3.0.0.
+- Changed to be conditionally defined as `#!cpp typename object_t::key_compare` or `default_object_comparator_t` in version 3.11.0.
diff --git a/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/object_t.md b/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/object_t.md
index d4bea15aa..67b3bb78c 100644
--- a/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/object_t.md
+++ b/doc/mkdocs/docs/api/basic_json/object_t.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ```cpp
 using object_t = ObjectType<StringType,
                             basic_json,
-                            object_comparator_t,
+                            default_object_comparator_t,
                             AllocatorType<std::pair<const StringType, basic_json>>>;
 ```
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ std::map<
 >
 ```
 
-See [`object_comparator_t`](object_comparator_t.md) for more information.
+See [`default_object_comparator_t`](default_object_comparator_t.md) for more information.
 
 #### Behavior
 
diff --git a/doc/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml b/doc/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml
index 59f0ae700..302e827cf 100644
--- a/doc/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml
+++ b/doc/mkdocs/mkdocs.yml
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ nav:
         - 'count': api/basic_json/count.md
         - 'crbegin': api/basic_json/crbegin.md
         - 'crend': api/basic_json/crend.md
+        - 'default_object_comparator_t': api/basic_json/default_object_comparator_t.md
         - 'diff': api/basic_json/diff.md
         - 'dump': api/basic_json/dump.md
         - 'emplace': api/basic_json/emplace.md
diff --git a/include/nlohmann/detail/meta/type_traits.hpp b/include/nlohmann/detail/meta/type_traits.hpp
index 376c00a09..c111b5520 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/detail/meta/type_traits.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/detail/meta/type_traits.hpp
@@ -160,6 +160,24 @@ struct has_to_json < BasicJsonType, T, enable_if_t < !is_basic_json<T>::value >>
         T>::value;
 };
 
+template<typename T>
+using detect_key_compare = typename T::key_compare;
+
+template<typename T>
+struct has_key_compare : std::integral_constant<bool, is_detected<detect_key_compare, T>::value> {};
+
+// obtains the actual object key comparator
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+struct actual_object_comparator
+{
+    using object_t = typename BasicJsonType::object_t;
+    using object_comparator_t = typename BasicJsonType::default_object_comparator_t;
+    using type = typename std::conditional < has_key_compare<object_t>::value,
+          typename object_t::key_compare, object_comparator_t>::type;
+};
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+using actual_object_comparator_t = typename actual_object_comparator<BasicJsonType>::type;
 
 ///////////////////
 // is_ functions //
diff --git a/include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index 1a2da8d45..51eb73778 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -350,21 +350,23 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
     /// the template arguments passed to class @ref basic_json.
     /// @{
 
-    /// @brief object key comparator type
-    /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/object_comparator_t/
+    /// @brief default object key comparator type
+    /// The actual object key comparator type (@ref object_comparator_t) may be
+    /// different.
+    /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/default_object_comparator_t/
 #if defined(JSON_HAS_CPP_14)
-    // Use transparent comparator if possible, combined with perfect forwarding
-    // on find() and count() calls prevents unnecessary string construction.
-    using object_comparator_t = std::less<>;
+    // use of transparent comparator avoids unnecessary repeated construction of temporaries
+    // in functions involving lookup by key with types other than object_t::key_type (aka. StringType)
+    using default_object_comparator_t = std::less<>;
 #else
-    using object_comparator_t = std::less<StringType>;
+    using default_object_comparator_t = std::less<StringType>;
 #endif
 
     /// @brief a type for an object
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/object_t/
     using object_t = ObjectType<StringType,
           basic_json,
-          object_comparator_t,
+          default_object_comparator_t,
           AllocatorType<std::pair<const StringType,
           basic_json>>>;
 
@@ -396,6 +398,10 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/binary_t/
     using binary_t = nlohmann::byte_container_with_subtype<BinaryType>;
 
+    /// @brief object key comparator type
+    /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/object_comparator_t/
+    using object_comparator_t = detail::actual_object_comparator_t<basic_json>;
+
     /// @}
 
   private:
diff --git a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index e806a8f00..cb48ffe59 100644
--- a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -3295,6 +3295,24 @@ struct has_to_json < BasicJsonType, T, enable_if_t < !is_basic_json<T>::value >>
         T>::value;
 };
 
+template<typename T>
+using detect_key_compare = typename T::key_compare;
+
+template<typename T>
+struct has_key_compare : std::integral_constant<bool, is_detected<detect_key_compare, T>::value> {};
+
+// obtains the actual object key comparator
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+struct actual_object_comparator
+{
+    using object_t = typename BasicJsonType::object_t;
+    using object_comparator_t = typename BasicJsonType::default_object_comparator_t;
+    using type = typename std::conditional < has_key_compare<object_t>::value,
+          typename object_t::key_compare, object_comparator_t>::type;
+};
+
+template<typename BasicJsonType>
+using actual_object_comparator_t = typename actual_object_comparator<BasicJsonType>::type;
 
 ///////////////////
 // is_ functions //
@@ -17812,21 +17830,23 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
     /// the template arguments passed to class @ref basic_json.
     /// @{
 
-    /// @brief object key comparator type
-    /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/object_comparator_t/
+    /// @brief default object key comparator type
+    /// The actual object key comparator type (@ref object_comparator_t) may be
+    /// different.
+    /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/default_object_comparator_t/
 #if defined(JSON_HAS_CPP_14)
-    // Use transparent comparator if possible, combined with perfect forwarding
-    // on find() and count() calls prevents unnecessary string construction.
-    using object_comparator_t = std::less<>;
+    // use of transparent comparator avoids unnecessary repeated construction of temporaries
+    // in functions involving lookup by key with types other than object_t::key_type (aka. StringType)
+    using default_object_comparator_t = std::less<>;
 #else
-    using object_comparator_t = std::less<StringType>;
+    using default_object_comparator_t = std::less<StringType>;
 #endif
 
     /// @brief a type for an object
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/object_t/
     using object_t = ObjectType<StringType,
           basic_json,
-          object_comparator_t,
+          default_object_comparator_t,
           AllocatorType<std::pair<const StringType,
           basic_json>>>;
 
@@ -17858,6 +17878,10 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/binary_t/
     using binary_t = nlohmann::byte_container_with_subtype<BinaryType>;
 
+    /// @brief object key comparator type
+    /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/object_comparator_t/
+    using object_comparator_t = detail::actual_object_comparator_t<basic_json>;
+
     /// @}
 
   private: