Added 10 October 2026
custody
/ˈkʌstədiː/ noun
In Latin: custōdia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about custody at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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The legal right to take care of something or somebody, especially children.
The court awarded custody to the child's father.
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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.
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The state of being imprisoned or detained, usually pending a trial.
He was mistreated while in police custody.
Origin
Borrowed from Latin custōdia (“a keeping, watch, guard, prison”), from custōs (“a keeper, watchman, guard”). Doublet of custode.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)