custodial

adjective

cus·​to·​di·​al ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-əl 

1

a

: relating to guardianship

b

: relating to, providing, or being protective care or services for basic needs

nursing and custodial care

2

: having sole or primary custody of a child

the custodial parent

Examples of custodial in a Sentence

Her mother is the custodial parent.

Recent Examples on the Web

The team owners have flown front office workers, food and beverage partners, and custodial and security staff to Los Angeles for the match. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Service workers, who support campuses and medical centers with custodial and other services, saw their contract expire Oct. 31. —Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024

While the bitcoin was likely being moved in either an over-the-counter sale or in preparation for one, some speculated it may be being moved to a different custodial wallet for storage. —Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

The universities generated financial aid offers based on an applicant’s custodial and noncustodial parents’ financial statuses. —Kyla Guilfoil, NBC News, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

custodial

adjective

cus·​to·​di·​al ˌkəs-ˈtōd-ē-əl 

1

: relating to, providing, or being protective care or services for basic needs

nursing and custodial care

2

: having sole or primary custody of a child

the custodial parent

Legal Definition

custodial

adjective

cus·​to·​di·​al kə-ˈstō-dē-əl 

1

: occurring during or in connection with custody

a custodial interrogation

2

: having sole custody or custody a greater portion of the time

a custodial parent