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

Prosecutors said during the trial that Pankey had been excommunicated after the incident, which also cost him his job there as a janitor. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 24 May 2025

Agudelo was biking home from her job as a janitor at an East Harlem museum, taking her usual shortcut through Randall’s Island to get to her Astoria apartment, when Jiraud jumped her about 11:30 p.m. last Friday, police said. —Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025

Created by Buffy alum and Cabin in the Woods director Drew Goddard, ABC's crime drama stars Kaitlin Olson as an eccentric (and fashionable) janitor with a genius-level IQ who stumbles into a consulting role with the Los Angeles Police Department. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2025

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

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