noun
Uncommon
janitor
JA-nih-tuh
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.”
noun
1
A person employed to clean and maintain a building, such as a school or office.
"The janitor mopped the hallway after the last class left."
"He asked the janitor for a spare key to the supply closet."
2
A moderator who manages and cleans up content on an online discussion forum.
"A janitor deleted the spam posts within minutes."
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").
UK vs US
Mainly American; British English typically says "caretaker" for the same job.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
school janitor
building janitor
janitor's closet
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Word forms
- Plural
- janitors
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
View more →Related words
Rhymes for janitor
editor
suitor
monitor
traitor
visitor
auditor
creditor
capacitor
solicitor
inhibitor
competitor
inquisitor
See all 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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