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

• caretaker
• custodian
• guardian
• keeper
• warden
• watchman

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

Peter Dinklage plays the title role, a janitor who becomes a CEO-fighting vigilante after falling into toxic waste and transforming into a mutant with superhuman size and strength. —Ben Rosenstock, Time, 16 May 2025

My mom was a janitor, my father was a trash man, my grandmother served food for 25 years for the community. —Isaiah Mikhail, Essence, 13 May 2025

Take TikTok user Taylor Hamm’s airport dancing video, for example, in which a nonplussed airport janitor directly walks through her frame. —Francesca Street, CNN Money, 2 May 2025

The organization was founded in 1921 by a group of immigrants who worked as janitors. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 May 2025

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