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

• caretaker
• guardian
• janitor
• keeper
• warden
• watchman

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

What Comes Next With Stitzel Reserve, the distillery is reaffirming its place not just as a producer, but as a custodian of bourbon legacy. —Emily Price, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025

The 37,000 members of Local 3299 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, include groundskeepers, custodians, MRI technologists and respiratory therapists. —Pat Maio, Oc Register, 8 June 2025

The following witnesses are also expected today: Enrique Santos and Eddy Garcia, who are expected to testify with immunity; Sylvia Okun, a hotel custodian; and Frank Piazza, a forensic video expert. —Nbc News, NBC news, 2 June 2025

The following witnesses will testify: InterContinental Hotel security supervisor Eddie Garcia, who will testify under immunity; hotel custodian Sylvia Okun and two men named Enrique Santos and Frank Piazza. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 1 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for custodian

• cambodian
• collodion
• foucauldian
• 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