custodianship

UK: /kʌsˈtəʊdɪənʃɪp/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

custodianship / kʌsˈtəʊdɪənʃɪp/ noun

1. the condition of being a custodian
2. (in Britain) a legal basis for the care of children under the Children's Act 1975, midway between fostering and adoption, devised for children settled in long-term foster care or living permanently with relatives or a step-parent

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cus•to•di•an /kʌˈstoʊdiən/   n. [countable]

1. a person who has custody:
   Who will be your children's custodian?
2. a person entrusted with guarding or maintaining a property;
   caretaker:
   The custodian locked the museum.

cus•to•di•an•ship, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cus•to•di•an  (ku stō′dē ən), n. 

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

• Latin custōdi(a) watchman (see custody) + -an
• 1775–85

cus•to′di•an•ship′, n.