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

Onuba counseled now is the time to take another page from PE, which is their operating partner model, where operating partners sit between management and assets, thereby becoming custodians for the post asset-value integration. —Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 4 Nov. 2025

Ahuja noted that institutional infrastructure for bitcoin—custodians, liquidity providers, and banks—has matured significantly over the past several years, creating greater stability. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025

The village’s three human custodians decided to block other humans from the group chat. —Tharin Pillay, Time, 4 Nov. 2025

Directed and written by Tom DeNucci (Vault), The Roaring Game chronicles the journey of Ricky, a high school custodian who loses everything when his girlfriend is selected to play hockey for Team USA and compete in the World Games. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Oct. 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