collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

: one that collects: such as

a

: an official who collects funds or monies

b

: a person who makes a collection

stamp collector

c

: an object or device that collects

the statuette was a dust collector

d

: solar collector

collectorship

kə-ˈlek-tər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of collector in a Sentence

He is an avid stamp collector.

The painting was purchased by a private collector.

The trash collectors came early today.

Recent Examples on the Web

Planning Commission member Karen Sherman pointed out the city ordinance prohibits driveways exiting onto collector streets for safety. — Annette Beard, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026

Designed around New York’s gallery neighborhoods, Art Week NYC aims to celebrate the city’s one-of-a-kind art ecosystem by bringing together museums, cultural institutions, galleries, artists, collectors, and audiences. — News Desk, Artforum, 16 Oct. 2026

The event promises to bring together galleries, museums, artists, collectors, cultural organizations, and audiences over four days of programming, from walking tours to artist talks to gallery openings. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

If enough collectors and performance enthusiasts step forward, Peugeot is ready to open the order books. — New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English collectour, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin collēctōr-, collēctor, from colleg-, variant stem of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate" + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix — more at collect entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing collector

• collector's item
• solar collector

Rhymes for collector

• bisector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• detector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• elector
• erector

Kids Definition

collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

1

: a person whose job is to collect money due

tax collector

bill collector

2

: one that makes a collection

stamp collector

3

: an object or device that collects

the ornament was just a dust collector