custody battle

noun

: a legal fight between divorced parents about who will take care of a child
a bitter custody battle

Examples of custody battle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Blood, bullet casings, children’s clothes The custody battle had also been a major focus for Mary Gingles. Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026 The lobby’s influence waned after founder Jorge Mas Canosa’s death in 1997, and the Elián González affair – a messy international custody battle involving a 6-year-old Cuban boy – further fractured the community. Michael Paarlberg, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026 At the time of the killings, Adams was in a custody battle with Butler over her grandchildren, who were Butler's children. Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026 Jonas filed for divorce from Turner in 2023 and, after a contentious custody battle over their daughters, finalized their divorce in September 2024. Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 19 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for custody battle

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Custody battle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custody%20battle. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster