collector

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

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

Keith Richardson is a home brewer and beer memorabilia collector. — John Lauritsen, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

The clerk also has specific duties like certifying tax levies to the state auditor and county collector. — The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

The exterior of Pit Stop Foreign Car Service belies the fact that there are often blue-chip collector cars inside. — Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2026

Hennessey does not publicize names of its high-net-worth collectors and buyers. — New Atlas, 5 Aug. 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