ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Custody

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈkʌstədiː/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Custody is a noun meaning The legal right to take care of something or somebody, especially children.

Meaning

The legal right to take care of something or somebody, especially children.

More Meanings

  1. Temporary possession or care of somebody else's property.
  2. The state of being imprisoned or detained, usually pending a trial.
  3. (Roman Catholicism) An area under the jurisdiction of a custos within the Order of Friars Minor.

Example Sentences

The mother gained custody of the children.
He was mistreated while in police custody.
The court awarded custody to the child's father.
I couldn't pay the bill and now my passport is in custody of the hotel management.

Word Forms

Synonyms for custody

Depending on context, synonyms include hold, detention, hands.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include detention, hold, hands, custodian, custodial, tutelage.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.