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

For those seeking a car with icon status among collectors and vintage racers, the Allard J2X is a winning choice. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025

According to Rosendahl, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for wine connoisseurs and royal collectors to buy an extremely rare piece of history. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

The Man of Steel was the first superhero to enter pop culture, helping boost the copy’s value among collectors, alongside its improbable backstory, Allen said. —Jack Brook, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025

Making a small payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can restart the clock in some states, allowing debt collectors more room and more avenues to collect the money owed. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 25 Nov. 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

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