A person whose job is to take care of a building by cleaning it and doing basic repairs. Janitors often work in schools, offices, and apartment buildings.
From Latin “ianitor,” meaning “doorkeeper” or “porter,” from “ianua,” meaning “door.” In early English, “janitor” meant a caretaker or doorkeeper, and the role gradually focused more on cleaning and maintenance. The “j” sound in English reflects how Latin “i” before a vowel often shifted in later languages.
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