✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

custodial

adjective

cus·​to·​di·​al ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-əl How to pronounce custodial (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
According to the Oakland County Health Department, a custodial employee within the sheriff's administration building tested positive for Legionnaires' disease. Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025 Timothy Lee Meador, who CNN affiliate WCYB reported was a teacher and coach at the same high school, pleaded guilty to two felony charges of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship, Virginia court records show. Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 1 Dec. 2025 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 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 See All Example Sentences for custodial

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of custodial was in 1678

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Custodial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custodial. Accessed 8 Dec. 2025.

Medical Definition

custodial

adjective
cus·​to·​di·​al ˌkəs-ˈtōd-ē-əl How to pronounce custodial (audio)
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 How to pronounce custodial (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!