Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun custody

3 senses of custody

Sense 1
detention, detainment, hold, custody -- (a state of being confined (usually for a short time); "his detention was politically motivated"; "the prisoner is on hold"; "he is in the custody of police")
       => confinement -- (the state of being confined; "he was held in confinement")

Sense 2
custody -- (holding by the police; "the suspect is in custody")
       => imprisonment, internment -- (the act of confining someone in a prison (or as if in a prison))

Sense 3
hands, custody -- ((with `in') guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child; "my fate is in your hands"; "too much power in the president's hands"; "your guests are now in my custody"; "the mother was awarded custody of the children")
       => guardianship, keeping, safekeeping -- (the responsibility of a guardian or keeper; "he left his car in my keeping")