custodial

adjective

cus·​to·​di·​al ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-əl 

1

a

: relating to guardianship

b

: relating to, providing, or being protective care or services for basic needs

nursing and custodial care

2

: having sole or primary custody of a child

the custodial parent

Examples of custodial in a Sentence

Her mother is the custodial parent.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pair will continue to raise Shea as their own and will remain her custodial parents, according to the custody agreement filed on June 12, the outlet reported. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026

Unlike traditional capital gains taxes, this levy applies every time crypto is moved, irrespective of profit, even between a user's own accounts or to a self-custodial wallet. —Shehan Chandrasekera, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

Score and Mills will continue to be Shea's custodial parents and raise her as their own child, according to the custody agreement, which was filed in Orange County, Florida, on June 12. —Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 16 June 2026

While the details remain private, the filing says that Score and Mills would retain their rights to continue as Shea's permanent custodial parents. —David Chiu, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for custodial

• noncustodial

Medical Definition

custodial

adjective

cus·​to·​di·​al ˌkəs-ˈtōd-ē-əl 

1

: relating to, providing, or being protective care or services for basic needs

nursing and custodial care

2

: having sole or primary custody of a child

the custodial parent

Legal Definition

custodial

adjective

cus·​to·​di·​al kə-ˈstō-dē-əl 

1

: occurring during or in connection with custody

a custodial interrogation

2

: having sole custody or custody a greater portion of the time

a custodial parent