custodian

noun

ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-ən How to pronounce custodian (audio)
Definition of custodiannext
1
as in keeper
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner the custodian made his usual rounds of the building to make sure that everything was OK

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2
as in guardian
a person or group that watches over someone or something served as custodian of the prisoner until he could be turned over to federal authorities

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3
as in defender
someone that protects we must regard ourselves as custodians of the Earth so that its natural resources may be enjoyed by many generations to come

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of custodian Long is on Zoom, from her home in Los Angeles and seated at her kitchen counter with the sliding doors behind her, where a custodian is cleaning the deck that coyotes keep fouling. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026 The dirty conditions come as the school board voted last month to cut costs and part ways with about 30 union custodians. — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 Any school district employee — including bus drivers, custodians, front-office staff, aides and administrators — can get a small (16-ounce) hot or cold drink of their choice. — Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 11 Sep. 2026 According to the Reza website, the brand actually dates back to the mid-1700s when the emperor of Persia selected the ancestors of the Reza family as custodians of the royal treasury eventually to serve as royal jewelers of Persia. — David Moin, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for custodian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custodian
  1. keeper
  2. guardian
  3. defender
  4. janitor
  5. warden
  6. protector
  7. caretaker
  8. guard
Noun
  • Kaminski was 33-of-48 passing for 381 yards for North Dakota (4-1), ranked seventh in the Stats Perform Football Championship Subdivision poll, and added 76 yards on 18 keepers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Ultimately, Jenkins capped the drive with a 4-yard keeper, putting UCF ahead 34-27 with 33 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
    — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • Martinez and Jesse became her legal guardians, and Martinez communicated every day with Rachelle’s mother, Maddison, who is still in prison.
    — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In California, a parent or legal guardian can surrender a baby within 72 hours of birth — no questions asked — to ensure the child’s well-being, the department said.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of guardian
Noun
  • KaVontae Turpin makes a defender miss in the open field on third down, picks up the first, and Williams plows it in for the TD.
    — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Montgomery hesitated in front of Lee before cutting inside to leave Lee one-on-one with a defender streaking toward the end zone.
    — PJ Green September 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of defender
Noun
  • The janitor resumed snapping at the bushes with her shears—tiny, clear quartz beads scattered.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Those excluded were primarily nurses, cooks and janitors stationed at state hospitals and prisons.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of janitor
Noun
  • Hosfelt was among nine staff members, including the former warden, arrested in June 2024 and charged with felonies in connection with deaths at the prison.
    — Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Luckily — or maybe unluckily — the camp’s warden, a hardbitten guy with an oily smile named Clancy (Russell Crowe, hardbitten, smiley, and oily), takes a liking to Murphy.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • The second a Verizon worker mentions adding a screen protector, my blood boils.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • And look for Maxx Crosby to feast against the Chargers’ pass protectors who couldn’t keep the Cardinals out of Herbert’s backfield.
    — Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of protector
Noun
  • After both sides signed the Pretoria peace deal, a caretaker administration seen as loyal to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was installed in Mekelle, the Tigray capital.
    — SAMUEL GETACHEW, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The women supposedly work more in caretaker jobs like teaching and healthcare, softening their views toward the least of us.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of caretaker
Noun
  • Iowa lined up to go for it on fourth down at the Michigan 28 late in the game and left guard Leighton Jones was flagged for a false start.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The Fever guard missed much of last season with a variety of injuries.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of guard

Browse Nearby Words

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custodian
custodians
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Cite this Entry

“Custodian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodian. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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