custodian

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

custodianship

2 of 2

noun (2)

cus·​to·​di·​an·​ship ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-ən-ˌship 

kə-

: the office or duty of a custodian

the sense of custodianship of a faith received

—R. M. French

Synonyms of custodian

Noun (1)

• keeper
• janitor
• warden
• caretaker
• guardian

Examples of custodian in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

The union represents over 250,000 classified public school employees, like bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, para-educators, clerical staff and campus security guards. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 15 July 2026

That experience is reflected in the firm serving as a custodian for the reserves of Tether, the world’s biggest stablecoin company, and operating funds that offer Bitcoin and tokenized gold. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Women, with their tender relational instincts, became seen as the custodians of the institution’s most precious and elevated forms. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Spieker was the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Spieker Properties, one of America’s largest commercial-property companies, and is the car’s current custodian. — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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