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

Winters also travels to Europe every year in search of antique and rare instruments to restore and sell to collectors and institutions, an often lucrative sideline. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

These statuettes were seized from hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt, formerly one of the world’s largest ancient art collectors. — News Desk, Artforum, 25 Sep. 2026

The card pairs Flagg’s autograph with a patch worn during his first Mavericks game, a formula that has quickly made Debut Patch cards coveted by collectors and investors. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

An amateaur fossil collector found the specimen the team used in this study and donated it to the Field Museum. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 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