n. · formal
custody
/ˈkʌs.tə.di/CUS·to·dy
Band 5-6speakingtask2
The state of being kept by the police (in custody) or the legal right to care for a child.
Examples
“The suspect was taken into custody last night.”
“After the divorce, she was granted custody of the children.”
“Journalists were denied access to the man in custody.”
Band 8 sentence
“Following the arrest the defendant was remanded in custody pending further investigation.”
Collocations
- take into custody
- in custody
- granted custody
Word family
custody n.custodial adj.
Common mistakes
He was under custody.→He was in custody.
She has custody to the children.→She has custody of the children.
Say it for a higher band
5detention→6imprisonment→7+custody
Synonyms
detention
Easily confused
detention
“The asylum seeker was held in detention for several weeks.”
Related words
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In Crime & Law
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