janitor
School maintenance worker
A janitor is a person employed to clean and maintain a building—emptying trash, mopping floors, fixing minor repairs.
The term is standard in American English; British English prefers caretaker.
Janitor can suggest low-status work: He went from janitor to CEO.
The related custodian sounds slightly more dignified.
Floor-washing implement
- broomBristled cleaning stick
- sweepBrush clean with broom
- scrubClean by rubbing hard
- dustpanHandheld floor-debris collector
bucket · squeegee · disinfect · sanitize · polish · wax · buff · vacuum
Guardian of a place
- superintendentChief administrative official
- handymanVersatile home repairer
- porterBaggage carrier or dark brew
- groundskeeperProperty maintenance worker
maintenance · steward · attendant · housekeeper · sanitation worker · building manager · facilities staff · night shift
Lock-operating instruments
- keyringLoop holding keys
- cartVehicle for hauling
- uniformIdentical throughout
- coverallsOne-piece work garment
toolbelt · plunger · ladder · mop bucket · wringer · dustbin · trash bags · spray bottle
Place of instruction
- hospitalMedical treatment facility
- officeProfessional work location
- buildingEnclosed roofed structure
- hallwayInterior connecting passage
gymnasium · cafeteria · lobby · warehouse · factory · mall · university · library
Cleaning floors with water
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- emptying trashRemoving collected garbage
- uncloggingRemoving an obstruction
- locking upFastening with a key
restocking · snow removal · repairs · rounds · inspection · maintenance · polishing · sanitizing
mop
Floor-washing implement
dustpan · bucket · squeegee · disinfect · sanitize · polish · wax · buff · vacuum · trash
custodian
Guardian of a place
- superintendentChief administrative official
- handymanVersatile home repairer
- porterBaggage carrier or dark brew
groundskeeper · maintenance · steward · attendant · housekeeper · sanitation worker · building manager · facilities staff · night shift
keys
Lock-operating instruments
coveralls · toolbelt · plunger · ladder · mop bucket · wringer · dustbin · trash bags · spray bottle · floor buffer
school
Place of instruction
hallway · gymnasium · cafeteria · lobby · warehouse · factory · mall · university · library · dormitory
mopping
Cleaning floors with water
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- emptying trashRemoving collected garbage
- uncloggingRemoving an obstruction
locking up · restocking · snow removal · repairs · rounds · inspection · maintenance · polishing · sanitizing · spill cleanup
- jobsdoctor, administrator, lawyer, teacher, nurse
- workersworkers, employee, employees, laborer, laborers
- worker typesteacher, doctor, nurse, lawyer, chef
- sanitationsewage, sewers, cleaning, sewer, disinfecting
- blue-collar jobsfactory work, factory worker, factory workers, construction, farm hand
- caretakerscaretakers, caregiver, guardian, minder, custodian
janitorCEO
Top corporate officer
executive · president · manager · white-collar worker · owner
- school janitorFacility maintenance staff member
- janitorial staffBuilding maintenance workers
- janitorial servicesProfessional building cleaning
- janitor closetMaintenance worker's storage space