janitor

noun

jan·​i·​tor ˈja-nə-tər 

1

: one who keeps the premises of a building (such as an apartment or office) clean, tends the heating system, and makes minor repairs

2

: doorkeeper

Synonyms of janitor

• custodian
• keeper
• warden
• caretaker

Examples of janitor in a Sentence

got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school

according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates

Recent Examples on the Web

Investigators believe Roberts tried to enlist the help of a school janitor to get rid of Russell’s car, penning a note and leaving it hidden inside a cabinet at Linda Lentin K-8 Center in North Miami, where Roberts was working at the time. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026

Shares of Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, whose janitors clean 2 billion square feet of commercial property every day, have been written down to nothing. — Ellen Dimauro, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026

An April 2025 legionella report obtained by The Sacramento Bee shows the bacteria was found in at least 17 samples, including those taken from the men’s locker room, a women’s bathroom and several janitor closets. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

The janitor resumed snapping at the bushes with her shears—tiny, clear quartz beads scattered. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from janus arch, gate

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

janitor

noun

jan·​i·​tor ˈjan-ət-ər 

1

: doorkeeper

2

: a person who has the care of a building

janitorial

ˌjan-ə-ˈtōr-ē-əl 

-ˈtȯr-

adjective