Family / B2

KUST-uh-dee/ˈkʌstədi/

Custody is the legal right to look after a child, or being held by the police: custody of the children, held in custody. Care is everyday for children; detention is a close cousin for police holding. In speech, who the child lives with / held by the police covers the two senses. Do not use custody for babysitting for an evening, and keep the family-law and the police senses apart in one sentence unless you mean both.

Meaning

The legal right to look after a child; also being held by the police.

Examples

• “The court granted her custody of the children.”
• “Joint custody meant weekdays with one parent and weekends with the other.”
• “He spent a night in custody and was released without charge — the police sense.”

Good to know

Legal care of a child, or being held by police. Everyday: who the child lives with / held by the police. Not an evening’s babysitting. Keep the two senses apart.

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