Custody is the legal right to keep and look after a child, especially the right given to a child's mother or father when they get divorced.
I'm going to go to court to get custody of the children. [+ of]
Child custody is normally granted to the mother.
...a bitter custody battle.
Synonyms: care, charge, protection, supervision More Synonyms of custody
2.
See in custody
3. uncountable noun
If someone is being held in a particular type of custody, they are being kept in a place that is similar to a prison.
The youngster got nine months' youth custody.
Barrett was taken into protective custody.
More Synonyms of custody
custody in British English
(ˈkʌstədɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-dies
1.
the act of keeping safe or guarding, esp the right of guardianship of a minor
2.
the state of being held by the police; arrest (esp in the phrases in custody, take into custody)
Derived forms
custodial (kʌˈstəʊdɪəl)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Latin custōdia, from custōs guard, defender
custody in American English
(ˈkʌstədi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈcustodies
1.
a guarding or keeping safe; care; protection; guardianship
2.
the right of having one's children in one's immediate care, awarded under various arrangements to one or both of the parents by a court as a result of a divorce or separation
Idioms:
in custody
take into custody
Word origin
ME custodie < L custodia < custos, a guard, keeper < IE *(s)keudh- < base *(s)keus-, to cover > sky
custody in American English
(ˈkʌstədi)
nounWord forms: plural-dies
1.
keeping; guardianship; care
2.
the keeping or charge of officers of the law
The car was held in the custody of the police
3.
imprisonment; legal restraint
He was taken into custody
4. Also called: child custody Law
the right of determining the residence, protection, care, and education of a minor child or children, esp. in a divorce or separation
Compare joint custody, sole custody
custody,keeping,possession imply a guardianship or care for something. custody denotes a strict keeping, as by a formally authorized and responsible guardian orkeeper: in the custody of the sheriff.keeping denotes having in one’s care or charge, as for guarding or preservation: I left the package in my mother's keeping.possession means holding, ownership, or mastery: Leave it in possession of its owner.
Word origin
[1400–50; late ME custodye ‹ L custōdia a watching, watchman, equiv. to custōd- (s. of custōs) keeper + -ia-y3]
COBUILD Collocations
custody
be granted custody
Examples of 'custody' in a sentence
custody
It comes just days after the warring parents finally settled their custody battle.
The Sun (2016)
He was taken into custody and quizzed by detectives.
The Sun (2016)
Divorce dogs the pooches caught in the middle Who gets custody of the dog when a couple split up?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was also replaced by a stand-in because he was in police custody at the time of the race.
The Sun (2016)
The first time they said they couldn't help me with the police unless my son had been taken into custody.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is in police custody.
The Sun (2016)
A bitter custody battle ensued.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We need to get him in custody.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He has been awarded full custody over them.
The Sun (2015)
Three cricketers have also been taken in custody.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
His biological mother gained custody when he was two and a half.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was also incensed at losing a custody battle over two grandchildren.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He was remanded in custody to crown court.
The Sun (2011)
Mothers at last had equal custody rights with fathers.
Jackson, Rosie Mothers who Leave (1994)
Some of our branches across the country also offer support in police custody suites.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The three other men arrested remain in custody.
The Sun (2009)
The warehouse caretaker was taken into custody.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He is in custody awaiting a court hearing.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Who'll get custody of all the kitchen gadgets?
The Sun (2016)
Surprisingly enough, such custody battles are not new.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If neither parent has automatic rights of custody, each should make plans before any divorce.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He was awarded custody of his son after his 2001 divorce.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I will apply for custody with my mother.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
custody
British English: custody /ˈkʌstədɪ/ NOUN
Custody is the legal right to look after a child, especially the right given to a child's father or mother when they get divorced.
I'm going to court to get custody of my children.
American English: custody
Arabic: وِصَايَة
Brazilian Portuguese: custódia
Chinese: 拘留
Croatian: skrbništvo
Czech: opatrovnictví
Danish: forældremyndighed
Dutch: voogdij
European Spanish: custodia
Finnish: holhous
French: garde de l'enfant
German: Obhut
Greek: επιτήρηση
Italian: custodia
Japanese: 保護
Korean: 보관
Norwegian: forvaring
Polish: nadzór
European Portuguese: custódia
Romanian: custodie
Russian: опека
Latin American Spanish: custodia
Swedish: fängsligt förvar
Thai: สิทธิ์ในการดูแลเด็ก
Turkish: koruma altına alma
Ukrainian: опіка
Vietnamese: sự trông nom
All related terms of 'custody'
in custody
Someone who is in custody or has been taken into custody has been arrested and is being kept in prison until they can be tried in a court .
child custody
Law custody (sense 4 )
custody suite
the part of a police station where people who have been arrested are held in custody
joint custody
Custody is the legal right to keep and look after a child, especially the right given to a child's mother or father when they get divorced .
sole custody
Custody is the legal right to keep and look after a child, especially the right given to a child's mother or father when they get divorced .
youth custody
(in Britain ) a sentence of from four to eighteen months ' detention passed on a person aged 15 to 21
custody battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
police custody
If somebody or something is in police custody , they are kept somewhere secure , under the supervision of police officers , for example in a police station .
protective custody
If a witness in a court case is being held in protective custody , they are being kept in prison in order to prevent them from being harmed.
be granted custody
Custody is the legal right to keep and look after a child, especially the right given to a child's mother or father when they get divorced .
take into custody
to arrest
youth custody centre
(in Britain) a place where offenders aged 15 to 21 may be detained and given training , instruction , and work
young offender institution
(in Britain ) a place where offenders aged 15 to 21 may be detained and given training , instruction , and work
young offenders institution
(in Britain ) a place where offenders aged 15 to 21 may be detained and given training , instruction , and work
Chinese translation of 'custody'
custody
(ˈkʌstədɪ)
n(u)
[of child]监(監)护(護)权(權) (jiānhù quán)
(for offenders) 拘留 (jūliú)
to be remanded in custody拘留候审(審) (jūliú hòushěn)
to take sb into custody拘捕某人 (jūbǔ mǒurén)
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of keeping safe
I'm taking him to court to get custody of the children.
Synonyms
care
the orphans who were in her care
charge
I have been given charge of this class.
protection
The primary duty of parents is the protection of their children.
supervision
First-time licence holders have to work under supervision.
preservation
the preservation of buildings of historic interest
auspices
aegis
The space programme will continue under the aegis of the armed forces.
tutelage (formal)
This period of tutelage was indispensable for the territories.
guardianship
safekeeping
He had been given the bills for safekeeping by a business partner.
keeping
It has been handed over for safe keeping.
trusteeship
custodianship
2 (noun)
Definition
imprisonment prior to being tried
Three people appeared in court and two of them were remanded in custody.
Synonyms
imprisonment
She was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.
detention
the detention of the suspects ahead of the trial
confinement
She had been held in solitary confinement for four months.
incarceration
her mother's incarceration in a psychiatric hospital
duress
durance (archaic)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aegis
The space programme will continue under the aegis of the armed forces.
Synonyms
support,
backing,
wing,
favour,
protection,
shelter,
sponsorship,
patronage,
advocacy,
auspices,
guardianship
in the sense of charge
Definition
custody or guardianship
I have been given charge of this class.
Synonyms
care,
trust,
responsibility,
custody,
safekeeping
in the sense of confinement
Definition
being confined
She had been held in solitary confinement for four months.