collector

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

collectorship

2 of 2

noun (2)

col·​lec·​tor·​ship kə-ˈlek-tər-ˌship 

plural -s

1

: the jurisdiction, residence, office, or staff of a collector

2

: the practice of one that collects

Examples of collector in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

In the living room, Tagliaferri, who is an art collector himself, created a floor-to-ceiling ceramic mural. — Leonie Rolinck, Architectural Digest, 9 Oct. 2026

The inaugural iteration of Santa Fe Invitational will take place April 8–11, 2027 at the Santa Fe Convention Center, hosting some forty-five international galleries as well as artists, collectors, and various local and international institutions. — News Desk, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2026

Stolen fine wine is also hard to sell at full price, because collectors pay for a bottle’s history. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Waiting lists appeared, collectors took notice, and the watch established the template for every Daytona that followed. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (1)

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