janitor

noun

jan·​i·​tor ˈja-nə-tər How to pronounce janitor (audio)
1
: one who keeps the premises of a building (such as an apartment or office) clean, tends the heating system, and makes minor repairs
2

Examples of janitor in a Sentence

got a job as the night janitor at the elementary school according to popular Christian tradition, St. Peter acts as janitor at heaven's pearly gates
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Where to watch:Netflix 'The Toxic Avenger' (2025) The 1984 cult movie gets a revamp courtesy of this gory superhero comedy, with Peter Dinklage as a janitor transformed into a mutant vigilante doling out social justice. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025 Richards’s first job after graduating from Brown in 1980 was as a labor organizer, running union campaigns for garment workers, nursing-home workers, and janitors, positions that took her from New Orleans to Houston and Los Angeles. Jonathan Van Meter, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2025 Goodall, a school janitor from Terre Haute, has booked a number of performances in Central and South Central Indiana since his AGT win in September. Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2024 The janitor at the center of Perfect Days warms to a young woman who appreciates the sound of his Patti Smith tape, but becomes cranky toward the co-worker who sees his cherished objects only as collectible commodities. Mark Athitakis, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for janitor 

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from janus arch, gate

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of janitor was in 1629

Dictionary Entries Near janitor

Cite this Entry

“Janitor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/janitor. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

janitor

noun
jan·​i·​tor ˈjan-ət-ər How to pronounce janitor (audio)
1
2
: a person who has the care of a building
janitorial adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on janitor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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