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

At the moment, the middle-ground perspective focuses on Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations for centralized exchanges and custodial services, while maintaining some degree of anonymity for peer-to-peer transactions. —David G.w. Birch, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

An investigation was launched, and a felony warrant for custodial interference was issued, Othram said in a news release. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2025

According to police and the genealogy company, investigators later obtained a felony warrant for Tenorio on a charge of custodial interference. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2025

Ruggia was found guilty at the beginning of this year and given a two-year custodial sentence under house arrest with an electronic bracelet. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for custodial

• noncustodial

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