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 growing appetite from both private collectors and public audiences builds on years of scholarship by academics such as Ogbechie, and curator Bonsu hopes that this mainstream interest alongside the exhibition will prompt visitors to ask questions and reflect on their own cultural heritage. —Suyin Haynes, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025

The company’s portfolio spanning sports, entertainment and culture will initially include Frieze; pro tennis tournaments in Miami and Madrid; and a majority stake in collector car auction and auto lifestyle brand Barrett-Jackson. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2025

The sports car would be yet another niche, collector vehicle à la the Cybertruck, which had strong initial sales that then leveled off. —Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025

Mimicking the beauty of natural opal stone, opalite carries a mystical, otherworldly beauty that appeals to both crystal enthusiasts, collectors and none other than Taylor Swift! —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 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