Word
custody
Phoneticscus·tody
US/ˈkəstədi/
UK/kˈʌstədi/
Definitions
01care of a child
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law
n. the legal right or duty to care for a child, especially after parents separate.
n. the legal right to make decisions for and provide physical care for a minor, typically determined by a court during divorce proceedings.
“The parents agreed to share custody of their children after the divorce.”
“The judge awarded sole legal custody to the mother, citing her established history as the primary caregiver and the father's frequent international travel.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'joint custody' or 'sole custody'.
Synonyms
02police detention
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law
n. the state of being kept in prison or by the police, usually while waiting for a trial.
n. the state of being held under the control of law enforcement or a judicial authority, particularly while awaiting trial or sentencing.
日本語:拘留※
“The suspect was taken into custody shortly after the robbery.”
“The defendant will remain in police custody until his bail hearing on Monday morning, as the prosecutor argued he posed a significant flight risk.”
Usage
Commonly used with the verbs 'take into' or 'remain in'.
Synonyms
03care of property
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of looking after someone else's property or money for a short time.
n. the protective care or guardianship of assets, documents, or physical property belonging to another party.
日本語:保管※
“The bank has custody of the original documents for the house.”
“The museum was granted temporary custody of the private collection, provided they maintained strict climate controls and 24-hour security.”
Usage
Often appears in the phrase 'in the custody of'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “custody” in context.
Verb
01. award custody to the mother
“The judge decided to award sole custody to the mother after reviewing the evidence.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. seek joint custody
“Both parents agreed to seek joint custody to ensure the children spent equal time with each.”
verb + adj + noun
03. take the suspect into custody
“The police were forced to take the suspect into custody following the high-speed chase.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
04. protective custody
“The witness was placed in protective custody until the trial commenced.”
adj + noun
05. remand in custody
“The magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody until his next court appearance.”
adj + prep
Noun
06. chain of custody
“The defense lawyer questioned the chain of custody regarding the DNA evidence.”
noun + of + noun
07. custody battle
“The celebrity couple's bitter custody battle was splashed across the tabloids for months.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. in custody
“The man remains in custody while detectives continue their investigation into the robbery.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“No suspects have been named, nor has anyone been taken into custody with regards to Wells’ disappearance and death.” “Since she was taken into custody, Macara said Gartshore has spent approximately 23 hours a day in her cell, which he said is to ensure her own safety and protection.” “He has been in custody since April after being arrested in relation to another case.” “He will be held in custody for three months, the Warsaw police said in a statement.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin custōdia (“a keeping, watch, guard, prison”), from custōs (“a keeper, watchman, guard”). Doublet of custode.
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
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/custody
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0