custody
The legal right to take care of something or somebody, especially children.
Example
“The court awarded custody to the child's father.”
Other meanings
Temporary possession or care of somebody else's property.
“I couldn't pay the bill and now my passport is in custody of the hotel management.”
The state of being imprisoned or detained, usually pending a trial.
“He was mistreated while in police custody.”
Synonyms
- hold
Related words
- custodee
- joint custody
- maternal custody
- paternal custody
- protective custody
- sole custody
- chain of custody
- data custody
- youth custody centre
Word history
From Latin "custōdia" (a keeping, watch, guard, prison).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “custody” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.