custodian

noun

cus·​to·​di·​an ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-ən 

: one that guards and protects or maintains

especially : one entrusted with guarding and keeping property or records or with custody or guardianship of prisoners or inmates

custodianship

ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-ən-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms of custodian

• keeper
• janitor
• warden
• caretaker
• guardian

Examples of custodian in a Sentence

the custodian made his usual rounds of the building to make sure that everything was OK

served as custodian of the prisoner until he could be turned over to federal authorities

Recent Examples on the Web

Every interaction a child has from the superintendent to a school’s custodian could have a lasting impact, which Sims knew, Brooks said. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026

Mark Glende, Rosemount, is an elementary school custodian. —Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026

Athletic coaches, people responding to emergencies, people supervising inmates, custodians, and people helping children who need bathroom assistance get a pass. —ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026

After the Soviet Union collapsed, the United States spent years — and billions of dollars through the Nunn-Lugar program — scrambling to secure biological, chemical, and nuclear stockpiles that suddenly had no reliable custodian. —Ashish K. Jha, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for custodian

• cambodian
• collodion
• foucauldian
• nickelodeon

Kids Definition

custodian

noun

cus·​to·​di·​an ˌkəs-ˈtōd-ē-ən 

1

: someone who guards and protects or takes care of something for another person

2

: someone who cleans and takes care of a building : janitor sense 2

Legal Definition

custodian

noun

cus·​to·​di·​an

: an individual entrusted with guarding and keeping property or having custody of a person: as

a

: the warden of a prison

b

: a person given custody of a child by court order

c

: a person named to manage a child's property under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act

d

: a person or entity appointed by a bankruptcy court to take charge of the debtor's property for purposes of administration

custodianship noun