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 deaths of three girls in Washington state whose mother reported them missing after their father didn't return them from a custodial visit, has prompted cries for reform because an Amber Alert was never sent for the sisters.
—
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Although many psychiatric hospitals of the era were custodial facilities where patients could be locked away for life, San Servolo and San Clemente were more often transitional.
—Asia London Palomba, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025
Amid the ongoing manhunt for Decker — who is currently wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping, on top of custodial interference charges — police have been asking the public to come forward with any information.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 5 June 2025
Decker had some custodial rights, so abduction was not an immediate legal presumption, said the spokesperson, Chris Loftis.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for custodial
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.
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Although many psychiatric hospitals of the era were custodial facilities where patients could be locked away for life, San Servolo and San Clemente were more often transitional.
—Asia London Palomba, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 June 2025
Amid the ongoing manhunt for Decker — who is currently wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping, on top of custodial interference charges — police have been asking the public to come forward with any information.
—Nicole Acosta, People.com, 5 June 2025
Decker had some custodial rights, so abduction was not an immediate legal presumption, said the spokesperson, Chris Loftis.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for custodial
Cite this Entry
“Custodial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custodial. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share