Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for janitor

janitor

[ jan-i-ter ]

noun

  1. a person employed in an apartment house, office building, school, etc., to clean the public areas, remove garbage, and do minor repairs; caretaker.
  2. Archaic. a doorkeeper or porter.


verb (used without object)

  1. to be employed as a janitor.

janitor

/ ˈdʒænɪtə; ˌdʒænɪˈtɔːrɪəl /

noun

  1. the caretaker of a building, esp a school
  2. a person employed to clean and maintain a building, esp the public areas in a block of flats or office building; porter


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • janitorial, adjective
  • ˈjanitress, noun:feminine

Discover More

Other Words From

  • jan·i·to·ri·al [jan-i-, tawr, -ee-, uh, l], adjective
  • un·der·jan·i·tor noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of janitor1

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin jānitor “doorkeeper,” equivalent to jāni- (combining form of jānus “doorway, covered passage”) + -tor -tor

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of janitor1

C17: from Latin: doorkeeper, from jānua door, entrance, from jānus covered way (compare Janus 1); related to Latin īre to go

Discover More

Example Sentences

Everybody from Bill Gates to his janitor wants the economy to grow.

He admits to us that most of the time he is more of a janitor than a brewmaster.

The Nightman Cometh An illiterate janitor writes a musical to woo a woman who has a restraining order against him.

As a janitor working in a cleaning service, he claimed to have insider information.

AOC officials declined to discuss janitor compensation, but SAA officials were willing to share details.

The janitor should wash the clothes-racks with the acid bichloride solution every time he sweeps.

As Genevieve hoped would be the case, the janitor had not finished his nightly duties.

Say, the janitor service in this old ark is something I couldn't describe to a gentleman.

He says th' more he practises medicine th' more he becomes a janitor with a knowledge iv cookin'.

"In most places like this, the office boy or the janitor does such work," said Harry.

Advertisement

Related Words

Word of the Day

gallimaufry

[gal-uh-maw-free ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Janissary musicjanitorial