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 board also authorized the administration to solicit bids for a long-term service contract to furnish custodial services for an evening shift or all custodial work. —Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026

Byron Hoover, 60, was identified as the man killed in a custodial death report that was submitted Thursday to the Texas Attorney General’s Office. —Jacob Beltran, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2026

For divorced parents, the IRS generally treats the custodial parent as the eligible claimant for this credit—even if the noncustodial parent claims the child as a dependent using Form 8332. —Jenni Fink, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

The measure wouldn’t apply to people going into bathrooms for custodial services or maintenance, to provide medical assistance or to help law enforcement. —Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Mar. 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