Word
custodian
Phoneticscus·to·di·an, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈstoʊdiən/
UK/kʌstˈəʊdiən/
Definitions
01a guardian of something valuable
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. someone who is responsible for protecting or looking after something important, like a tradition, a building, or a child.
n. a person entrusted with the custody or care of something or someone; a protector of assets, values, or legal interests.
“The museum acts as the custodian of the nation's most important historical documents.”
“As the sole custodian of the family estate, she felt a heavy responsibility to preserve the land for future generations.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
02a building cleaner
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a person whose job is to clean and take care of a large building, like a school.
n. a person employed to clean and maintain a building, such as a school or office complex.
“The school custodian made sure all the classrooms were clean before the students arrived.”
“The head custodian reported that the heating system required urgent repairs before the winter term began.”
Teaching tip
In British English, 'caretaker' is the standard term for this role; 'custodian' is almost exclusively used for the 'guardian' sense.
Real-World Examples
“The Bank is one of the largest custodians of gold in the world.” “Decision makers must strike a delicate balance as they redefine their roles as custodians of culture in an era when technology empowers them to do so much.” Etymology
From a shortening of Latin custōdiānātus, from Latin custōdia (“a keeping, watch, guard, prison”), from custōs (“a keeper, watchman, guard”). By surface analysis, custody + -ian.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/custodian