janitor

noun

USJAN-i-tur/ˈd͡ʒænɪtɚ/UKJAN-i-tuh/ˈd͡ʒænɪtə/

4 meanings of janitor

1
nounPhilippinesUScountable
A person whose job is to clean and take care of a large public building.
Like someone who keeps a big building clean and working, the way you tidy your own room.
The janitor mopped the hallway after the students left for the day.
Our school hired a new janitor to take care of the gym and classrooms.
Similarcustodian, caretaker, cleaner
Note
2
noundialectalHong KongPhilippinesScotlandUScountable
A person who cleans and looks after a school building and sometimes does other jobs too.
The school janitor unlocked the classrooms each morning and checked the heating.
Students often asked the janitor for help when their lockers jammed.
Similarcaretaker, custodian
Note
3
nouncountable
A person who guards or watches the door of a building.
Like a guard who stands at the door and decides who can come in.
The janitor checked every visitor's pass before unlocking the gate.
A janitor stood at the main entrance and greeted guests as they arrived.
Similardoorkeeper, porter, gatekeeper, doorman
Note
4
nounderogatorycountable
An unkind name for a person who moderates an online discussion forum.
Like calling someone only a cleaner who tidies up other people's mess.
Regulars rolled their eyes whenever the janitor locked another thread for going off-topic.
The board's janitors deleted half the posts overnight without any explanation.
Similarmoderator, mod
Note

Practice

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Origin

From the Latin word "ianitor," meaning "doorkeeper."