custodian

[ kuh-stoh-dee-uhn ]

noun

1. a person who has custody; keeper; guardian.
2. a person entrusted with guarding or maintaining a property; janitor.

custodian

/ kʌsˈtəʊdɪən /

noun

1. a person who has custody, as of a prisoner, ward, etc
2. a guardian or keeper, as of an art collection, etc

Other Words From

• cus·todi·an·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of custodian¹

1775–85; < Latin custōdi ( a ) watchman ( custody ) + -an

Example Sentences

Each franchise examines the corrosive nature of power when it’s consolidated into an insulated ruling class or, worse, one ill-suited custodian.

From Salon

White Correal said the buyer "said something beautiful to me: 'I'm exceptionally happy that I won this lot; but I don't own it, I'm merely the custodian until the next person will come along'."

From BBC

The theater custodian does one last vacuum between the aisles.

From Los Angeles Times

After all, she was workplace-close with Wesley Smith, the custodian at Cahaba Heights Elementary School, in this affluent suburb of Birmingham.

From Salon

Speaking to the committee on Tuesday, Mr Shah said there was "nothing more important than public trust in the BBC and we are custodians of that trust".

From BBC

Related Words

• curator
• keeper
• overseer
• protector
• steward
• superintendent
• supervisor
• warden
• watchdog