noun
janitor
JA-nih-tuh
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.
Common pairings
school janitor
building janitor
janitor's closet
Word Forms
janitors plural
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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.
Related Words
Rhymes for janitor
editor
suitor
monitor
traitor
visitor
auditor
creditor
capacitor
solicitor
inhibitor
competitor
inquisitor
See all rhymes for janitor →