Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person employed to clean and maintain a building: A janitor is someone whose job is to perform cleaning duties and general upkeep inside a building, such as an office, school, or apartment complex.

Usage

• The word "janitor" is a countable noun. It typically refers to a person performing maintenance and cleaning work, often as a formal job title or role.
• It is commonly used in American English. In British English, terms like "caretaker" or "cleaner" are often more frequent, though "janitor" is understood.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The school janitor mops the hallways every evening.
  • Please report the leaky faucet to the building's janitor.
  • He worked as a janitor in a large office building for twenty years.

Advanced Usage

• "Night janitor": A janitor who works during the night shift.
  • The night janitor ensures the building is ready for the next business day.
• The role can sometimes involve minor repairs and security checks in addition to cleaning.

Variants and Related Words

• Janitorial (adj): Relating to the work of a janitor.
  • The company provides janitorial services to several local businesses.
• Custodian (n): A synonym often used in formal or educational contexts, which can imply a broader responsibility for the care and maintenance of a building.
• Caregiver (n): This word is not a synonym; it refers to someone who cares for people (e.g., children, the sick), not buildings.

Synonyms

• Custodian
• Cleaner
• Maintenance worker
• Caretaker (primarily BrE)

Idioms

Phrasal Verbs

Noun

1. someone employed to clean and maintain a building