Standard Lemma guide

custodial

adj · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /kʌsˈtoʊ.di.əl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: K AH0 S T OW1 D IY0 AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Providing protection, care, supervision or guarding.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: comparable, not-comparable

Examples

  • custodial account, custodial care
  • My custodial efforts have kept my daughter safe her whole life.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of, pertaining to or providing custody, especially of a child.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • Near-synonym: parental
  • custodial dispute, custodial parent, custodial guardian
  • I disagree with the judge's custodial decision.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: parental

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Providing punishment by incarceration.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • custodial sentence, custodial status
  • People don't usually get any custodial time for those charges.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Occurring while in custody.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • custodial interrogation, custodial rape
  • Suspects must be treated respectfully during custodial processing.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adj

Meaning 5

Related to the work of a custodian.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • custodial closet, custodial area
  • Don't neglect your custodial duties.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: janitorial

Antonyms: none provided

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

providing protective supervision; watching over or safeguarding

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • daycare that is educational and not just custodial
  • a guardian angel
  • tutelary gods

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tutelary, tutelar

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From custody + -al; compare French custodial.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: ápolási — providing protection, care, supervision or guarding
  • Hungarian: gondozási — providing protection, care, supervision or guarding
  • Hungarian: gondnoki — providing protection, care, supervision or guarding
  • Hungarian: takarítási — providing protection, care, supervision or guarding
  • Hungarian: tisztasági — providing protection, care, supervision or guarding
  • Hungarian: ápoló — providing protection, care, supervision or guarding
  • Hungarian: gondozó — providing protection, care, supervision or guarding
  • Hungarian: takarító — providing protection, care, supervision or guarding
  • Hungarian: gondozási — of, pertaining to or providing custody, especially of a child
  • Hungarian: gyámsági — of, pertaining to or providing custody, especially of a child
  • Hungarian: gyermekelhelyezési — of, pertaining to or providing custody, especially of a child
  • Hungarian: börtönbüntetéses — providing punishment by incarceration
  • Hungarian: fegyházbüntetéses — providing punishment by incarceration
  • Hungarian: szabadságvesztéses — providing punishment by incarceration
Real reading context

custodial in complete knowledge articles