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

This includes all materials related to investigations, prosecutions or custodial matters involving Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, including flight logs and travel records, and individuals named or referenced in the inquiry. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

Santos-Colon also performed custodial work around the gas station and car wash, detectives wrote in a criminal complaint. —Joe Brandt, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025

The school buildings were already open and there were no facility or custodial fees, a PPS spokesperson said. —Preston Mizell, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2025

That union represents educational support professionals such as custodial, food service, IT, security and transportation. —Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 10 Nov. 2025

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