custodian

noun

cus·​to·​di·​an ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-ən 

: one that guards and protects or maintains

especially : one entrusted with guarding and keeping property or records or with custody or guardianship of prisoners or inmates

custodianship

ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-ən-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms of custodian

• keeper
• janitor
• warden
• caretaker
• guardian

Examples of custodian in a Sentence

the custodian made his usual rounds of the building to make sure that everything was OK

served as custodian of the prisoner until he could be turned over to federal authorities

Recent Examples on the Web

The following day, a 15-year-old killed a school custodian and wounded two other people in a knife attack at his former school in the same province. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Undeath have signed with those custodians of heavy music over at Relapse and debuted a new song for the label. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026

Officers emerged from that coup as the architects of the new state and cast themselves as the custodians of its national interest. — Abdelrahman Elgendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

The salary raises would go to custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and teachers to help DPS retain staff. — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for custodian

• cambodian
• collodion
• nickelodeon

Kids Definition

custodian

noun

cus·​to·​di·​an ˌkəs-ˈtōd-ē-ən 

1

: someone who guards and protects or takes care of something for another person

2

: someone who cleans and takes care of a building : janitor sense 2

Legal Definition

custodian

noun

cus·​to·​di·​an

: an individual entrusted with guarding and keeping property or having custody of a person: as

a

: the warden of a prison

b

: a person given custody of a child by court order

c

: a person named to manage a child's property under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act

d

: a person or entity appointed by a bankruptcy court to take charge of the debtor's property for purposes of administration

custodianship noun