collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

: one that collects: such as

a

: an official who collects funds or moneys

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

The bathroom can quickly become a clutter collector with lots of skincare, makeup, and hair products occupying counter space. —Jacqueline Tempera, People.com, 22 June 2025

The series follows collectors in search of unique artifacts in small towns and back roads throughout the United States. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025

But that’s less than half the rate of Mint 9s that get turned into a 10 on resubmission, according to these Pokemon collectors. —Michael Salfino, New York Times, 20 June 2025

This prevents car collectors from legally driving their beautiful vehicles on a beautiful Sunday in California. —Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 19 June 2025

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

14th 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