What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
custody
Example
The mother was granted custody of the children after the divorce. [custody: noun]
Example
The police took the suspect into custody for questioning. [custody: noun]
Example
The museum has custody of the priceless artifact. [custody: noun]
guardianship
Example
The grandparents were granted guardianship of the orphaned child. [guardianship: noun]
Example
The court appointed a guardian to take care of the elderly woman with dementia. [guardian: noun]
Example
The lawyer was responsible for the guardianship of the estate until the beneficiary came of age. [guardianship: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Custody is more commonly used than guardianship in everyday language, especially in the context of child custody battles. Guardianship is more commonly used in legal and formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between custody and guardianship?
Guardianship is generally considered more formal than custody, as it is often granted by a court of law and involves more complex decision-making and management of resources.
