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

He has been additionally charged with assault, resisting arrest, and assault on a custodial officer following the incident, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon. —Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 27 May 2026

Richman was charged Sunday with two counts of custodial interference, a third-degree felony. —Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026

In contested divorces, even between couples of significant means, the family home will typically go to the custodial parent, Ryznar told me, in order to minimize disruption to the children’s lives. —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 23 May 2026

His death was ruled a homicide, according to the custodial death report from Attorney General’s Office. —Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 May 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