custody

9 synonyms and 5 antonyms for custody, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The legal right and responsibility to care for someone, especially a child.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

care keeping hold

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

detention confinement

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

guardianship safekeeping detainment hands

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

The legal right and responsibility to care for someone, especially a child.

“The mother gained custody of the children.”

guardianship care keeping detention confinement safekeeping detainment hands hold

Opposites

desertion abandonment neglect

2. noun

The state of being held by police, usually before a trial.

“The suspect was taken into custody after the raid.”

Opposites

discharge liberation

How to use custody

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

child custody taken into custody custody battle

Etymology

From Latin custodia, "a keeping, guard, prison," from custos, "a keeper."

Full origin of custody →

Frequently asked questions

What does “custody” mean?

The word “custody” means the legal right and responsibility to care for someone, especially a child. In plain terms, legal responsibility for a child, or being held by the police.

How do you pronounce “custody”?

“Custody” is pronounced KUHS-tuh-dee (/ˈkʌstədiː/ in IPA).

How do you use “custody” in a sentence?

Here is “custody” used in a sentence: “The parents share custody of their two children.”

What part of speech is “custody”?

“Custody” is a noun.

Where does the word “custody” come from?

The word “custody” comes from Latin. From Latin custodia, "a keeping, guard, prison," from custos, "a keeper.".

Is “custody” a common word?

“Custody” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “custody” have?

“Custody” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the legal right and responsibility to care for someone, especially a child.

What is the difference between "custody" and "guardianship"?

"Custody" is the legal right and responsibility to care for someone, especially a child, often decided during divorce or separation. "Guardianship" is a broader legal authority to make decisions for someone who cannot act for themselves, which can cover children or vulnerable adults.

What is the difference between "custody" and "arrest"?

An arrest is the act of detaining someone, while custody is the state of being held afterward, usually by police before a trial. A person is arrested and then taken into custody.

What is the difference between sole custody and joint custody?

Sole custody gives one parent the legal right and responsibility to care for a child, while joint custody shares that right and responsibility between both parents. Both concern who cares for and makes decisions about the child.

People also searched

care hold keeping detention liberation discharge neglect confinement abandonment safekeeping desertion guardianship

Nearby words

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