custodian

noun

cus·​to·​di·​an ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-ən How to pronounce custodian (audio)
: 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 noun

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 Crowley insists that Garfield's cameo is very hard to spot, given that Almut runs past other custodians on her route. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024 Advertisement The 39-year-old was a custodian at the college. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2024 Police say 39-year-old Davon Durell Dean, a Santa Monica College custodian, shot his coworker Monday night on campus. Karla Rendon, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024 Debbie Kennedy Debbie Kennedy, 66, was a retired nursing home custodian who reportedly moved to the Spanish Lakes Country Club Village in St. Lucie from upstate New York only seven months ago. David Chiu, People.com, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for custodian 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'custodian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of custodian was in 1602

Dictionary Entries Near custodian

Cite this Entry

“Custodian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custodian. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

custodian

noun
cus·​to·​di·​an ˌkəs-ˈtōd-ē-ən How to pronounce custodian (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on custodian

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