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

Federal prosecutors David Novick and Jonathan Francis don’t explicitly recommend a non custodial sentence, but imply repeatedly that one is appropriate. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026

If Musk chooses another distribution method, parents may need some type of custodial account to hold stock for a minor. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

There are typically 134 applications per custodial position in the Sacramento region, 103 near Los Angeles and 56 in the Bay Area. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Parents who aren't saving for education could also use custodial accounts, which are brokerage accounts for children managed by adults, according to Tommy Lucas, a CFP at Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo in Orlando, Florida. — Jessica Dickler,kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 8 Oct. 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