Definition

1. Noun:
   • Legal guardianship or care: The legal right and duty to care for and make decisions for a child or another person.
   • The state of being detained or held by the police: The condition of being kept under guard, especially by legal authority.

Examples of Usage

• Legal Guardianship:
  • The court awarded sole custody of the children to their mother.
  • He was granted visitation rights but not physical custody.
• Detention by Authorities:
  • The suspect was taken into police custody for questioning.
  • He spent the night in custody at the local jail.

Advanced Usage

• "In the custody of": Under the legal guardianship or physical control of a person or authority.
  • The documents are in the custody of the court clerk.
• "To be remanded in custody": (Legal) To be ordered by a court to be kept in detention while awaiting trial.
  • The judge denied bail, and the defendant was remanded in custody.

Variants and Related Words

• Custodial (adj): Relating to custody or guardianship.
  • The father has custodial rights over his son.
• Custodian (n): A person who has custody of something or someone; a caretaker.
  • The museum's custodian is responsible for the art collection.

Synonyms

• Guardianship: The position of protecting and caring for someone.
• Detention: The act of holding someone in official confinement.
• Confinement: The state of being imprisoned or restrained.

Related Phrases

• Take into custody: To arrest or detain someone officially.
  • The officers were ordered to take the fugitive into custody.
• Hold in custody: To keep someone detained.
  • The prisoner was held in custody for three days.

Related Idioms

• In safe custody: Being kept securely and protected.
  • Your valuables are in safe custody in the bank vault.

Noun

1. (with `in') guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
   • my fate is in your hands
   • too much power in the president's hands
   • your guests are now in my custody
   • the mother was awarded custody of the children
2. holding by the police
   • the suspect is in custody
3. a state of being confined (usually for a short time)
   • his detention was politically motivated
   • the prisoner is on hold
   • he is in the custody of police