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

• caretaker
• guardian
• janitor
• keeper
• warden
• watchman

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

The failure of a single custodian can happen for various reasons. —Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

Listen to this article A former New Jersey school custodian is facing up to eight years in prison after admitting to tainting cafeteria food and utensils with urine, feces and bleach to make children sick. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025

Further investigation revealed Huss had been appointed by a judge to be Dayan's third-party custodian, a condition of her release on bail. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 29 Dec. 2024

Reggae artists and cultural custodians have also carried Garvey’s teachings forward. —Melissa Noel, Essence, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined above

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