custodian

noun

ˌkə-ˈstō-dē-ən How to pronounce custodian (audio)
Definition of custodiannext
1
as in keeper
a person who takes care of a property sometimes for an absent owner the custodian made his usual rounds of the building to make sure that everything was OK

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2
as in guardian
a person or group that watches over someone or something served as custodian of the prisoner until he could be turned over to federal authorities

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3
as in defender
someone that protects we must regard ourselves as custodians of the Earth so that its natural resources may be enjoyed by many generations to come

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of custodian But without custodians, this will cease to be the case in the long term. — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026 Between your wallet and the coffee shop sit a custodian holding your balance, a program manager running the card, a sponsor bank whose BIN it is issued under, a processor authorizing the swipe and the network that clears it. — Shawn Yu, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Wheat wrote that a custodian of records from Logan’s office must either appear before the grand jury to present the records or deliver the materials to a special agent from Homeland Security Investigations. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026 If the information isn't readily available online, contact your custodian to ask how to get these specific details. — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for custodian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for custodian
  1. keeper
  2. guardian
  3. defender
  4. janitor
  5. warden
  6. protector
  7. caretaker
  8. guard
Noun
  • That drive started with a Mariota keeper around the left end that went for 35 yards.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The Crisis Manager This is the keeper of all things calm, the soothing presence when things get a bit too much.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of keeper
Noun
  • Health insurers, meanwhile, are tasked with being guardians of the health care dollar and master negotiators.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Given that Chuy García continued to serve out his term despite the health issues his wife is experiencing and his new responsibilities as guardian of his grandchild, the other explanation does not hold water.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of guardian
Noun
  • Assistant federal defender Stephen Ferrell, the attorney for Christa Pike, said in a Sunday interview with Jake Tapper on CNN’s State of the Union that his client remains unconscious and intubated in a Nashville hospital.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Quiñonez’s teammates regard her as an above-average, highly aggressive defender, but assertive defense and foul trouble are often synonymous in college basketball.
    — Jake McCreven, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of defender
Noun
  • An April 2025 legionella report obtained by The Sacramento Bee shows the bacteria was found in at least 17 samples, including those taken from the men’s locker room, a women’s bathroom and several janitor closets.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The janitor resumed snapping at the bushes with her shears—tiny, clear quartz beads scattered.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of janitor
Noun
  • Hosfelt was among nine staff members, including the former warden, arrested in June 2024 and charged with felonies in connection with deaths at the prison.
    — Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Luckily — or maybe unluckily — the camp’s warden, a hardbitten guy with an oily smile named Clancy (Russell Crowe, hardbitten, smiley, and oily), takes a liking to Murphy.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of warden
Noun
  • Of Miami’s seven third-and-long situations — seven-plus yards — the Dolphins utilized at least one extra protector on five of the plays, which didn’t help a winded front.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The second a Verizon worker mentions adding a screen protector, my blood boils.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of protector
Noun
  • Absentee voting is available to the elderly, disabled people and their caretakers, and others.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Hathaway told The Hollywood Reporter at the Verity New York premiere on Tuesday night (Dvorovenko portrays Verity’s caretaker, Anna).
    — Michaela Zee, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of caretaker
Noun
  • Suamataia didn’t start at left guard on the offensive line for the Chiefs in their AFC West showdown with the Raiders.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Turns out, since Proctor has been a major catalyst in the run game, routinely moving defensive tackles at guard, there’s some thought that guard, and not tackle, might be his future home.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of guard

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custodian
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Cite this Entry

“Custodian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/custodian. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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