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 is being sought for child abandonment and custodial interference, authorities said. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026

From the custodial staff to the doctors, things went smoothly. —Letter To Editor, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

After discovery of the large amounts of cash left unsecured overnight, the custodial staff refused to clean the office to avoid any suspicion if money was discovered to be missing. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 Apr. 2026

Before the change in California’s law, the only way a parent could share custodial rights with another guardian was if the parent was terminally ill, Guzman said. —CNN Money, 15 Apr. 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