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

• 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

The same workers who keep this country running every single day—home care aides, teachers, bus drivers and janitors who can’t afford to get sick. —Linda Goler Blount, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025

In Indiana, a church hired a janitor convicted of molesting a 7-year-old girl. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025

There, Relisha was befriended by a janitor, 51-year-old Khalil Tatum, whose felony record for crimes including burglary and breaking-and-entering meant he should not have been hired there in the first place. —Jeff Truesdell, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025

Think janitors all the way up to the CEOs that make a hospital hum. —Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 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