custody

noun

ˈkə-stə-dē How to pronounce custody (audio)
Definition of custodynext
as in care
responsibility for the safety and well-being of someone or something the government department having custody of all official state gifts

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 custody Davis was arrested in September 2023 and has remained in custody. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026 Police from both communities worked to take the suspect, a 35-year-old resident of Wayne, into custody in the parking lot of a Dearborn gas station. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 Hernandez fled the area on foot but was taken into custody without incident near La Gran Plaza in Fort Worth, police said. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026 The actress was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for evaluation. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for custody
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custody
  1. care
  2. guardianship
  3. custodianship
  4. control
  5. safekeeping
Noun
  • Japan, with the oldest population in the world, introduced a tax on all over-40s in 2000, ring-fenced for care.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The film starts from a point of frustration about a lack of governmental care, and a community falling apart from the stressors of being left with no support.
    — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of care
Noun
  • Hayden Panettiere‘s former fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko, was granted temporary guardianship of her estate on Friday, following the actor’s sudden death in August.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Permanent guardianship of the estate is set to be decided in December.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of guardianship
Noun
  • Weisbecker is not involved in the efforts but said her main concern was ensuring Indigenous people would have custodianship of the animal and that their input would help shape the thylacine’s de-extinction plans.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Venezuela’s oil production has jumped under Washington’s custodianship, though questions abound about where those profits, which were intended to help rebuild the country, have ended up.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of custodianship
Noun
  • Badly injured, Captain Machchhar somehow opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to overpower al-Hammami, and two off-duty pilots to take control of the plane and land it in Saudi Arabia.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In recent years, business has also benefited from factors outside the company’s control, like a country music resurgence boosting the sale of acoustic guitars and Taylor Swift inspiring more young women to take up the instrument.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of control
Noun
  • The Uffizi temporarily removed the Caravaggio for safekeeping and closed the room, which reopened as usual on September 18.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Other tasks she highlights include checking that your windshield washer fluid is rated for freezing temperatures and placing some gloves and a blanket in the trunk for safekeeping.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of safekeeping

Browse Nearby Words

custodies
custody
custom
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Cite this Entry

“Custody.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custody. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on custody

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about custody

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