Meaning of custodian

[Lopez]

English Idioms and Expressions, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #22 "Double Speak in Job Titles", question 1

The school custodian was the main suspect of the girl's disappearance.

(a) principal
(b) teacher
(c) janitor
(d) receptionist

English Idioms and Expressions, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #22 "Double Speak in Job Titles", answer 1

The school janitor was the main suspect of the girl's disappearance.

Correct answer: (c) janitor
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meaning of custodian

Lopez

[Pamela]

custodian here is an equivalent of watchman,guard

[Yankee]

Hi Pamela

I disagree with the way you worded that.

Custodian is a synonym for janitor in the test sentence.

Watchman or guard would be additional possible meanings for custodian, but that's not the meaning in the test sentence.

Amy

[Pamela]

I explain,Amy,why I wrote in this way.The matter is that janitor and custodian are synonyms.They have meanings (that I indicated)in common.That's why i took meanings both common to these words
If I'm not right,correct me,please

[Yankee]

Hi Pamela,

Just to clarify (hopefully ):

What I thought was unclear in your first post was the use of the word here. I understood that to mean "as used in the sentence here".

If a school happened to have a guard or watchman, that person would not be referred to as a janitor or custodian. Guards and watchmen are normally not required to do the cleaning in a building.

Amy

[Pamela]

Ok,I understand what you mean
Thanks!!!

[Pamela]

But custodian is not a cleaner while janitor is