janitor
Janitor (noun) means a person employed to clean and maintain a building, such as a school or office. Example: “The janitor mopped the hallway after the last class left.”
How to use janitor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone whose job is keeping a building clean and running smoothly — mostly used in American English (the UK equivalent is usually "caretaker").
Mainly American; British English typically says "caretaker" for the same job.
Word forms
janitors plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ mopped the hallway after the last class left.
Etymology
From Latin ianitor, "doorkeeper," from ianua ("door") — the original janitors literally guarded entrances rather than cleaned them.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for janitor
Frequently asked questions
What does “janitor” mean?
The word “janitor” means a person employed to clean and maintain a building, such as a school or office. In plain terms, someone whose job is keeping a building clean and running smoothly — mostly used in American English (the UK equivalent is usually "caretaker").
How do you pronounce “janitor”?
“Janitor” is pronounced JA-nih-tuh (/ˈd͡ʒænɪtɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “janitor” in a sentence?
Here is “janitor” used in a sentence: “The janitor mopped the hallway after the last class left.”
What is another word for “janitor”?
Words with a similar meaning to “janitor” include caretaker, cleaner, custodian, maintenance person, porter and groundskeeper.
What part of speech is “janitor”?
“Janitor” is a noun.
Where does the word “janitor” come from?
The word “janitor” comes from Latin. From Latin ianitor, "doorkeeper," from ianua ("door") — the original janitors literally guarded entrances rather than cleaned them.
Is “janitor” a common word?
“Janitor” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “janitor” have?
“Janitor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person employed to clean and maintain a building, such as a school or office.
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