conservator

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tor kən-ˈsər-və-tər 

-və-ˌtȯr;

ˈkän(t)-sər-ˌvā-tər

1

a

: one that preserves from injury or violation : protector

b

: one that is responsible for the care, restoration, and repair of archival or museum articles

2

: a person, official, or institution designated to take over and protect the interests of an incompetent

3

: an official charged with the protection of something affecting public welfare and interests

conservatorial

kən-ˌsər-və-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

(ˌ)kän-

adjective

conservatorship

kən-ˈsər-və-tər-ˌship 

-və-ˌtȯr-;

ˈkän(t)-sər-ˌvā-tər-

noun

Examples of conservator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Zurich architect Tilla Theus, creating the hotel was a painstaking process that took a decade, enlisting a small army of designers, contractors, and conservators. —Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Major museums know just how crucial this process is and have entire teams — from painters and electricians to art handlers and conservators — around to make sure things are done right. —Ray Mark Rinaldi, The Denver Post, 10 Feb. 2025

The survey found just five conservators come from American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. —Debra Utacia Krol, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024

Some paintings are accompanied by captions written not just by the curator, but also by scientists, conservators, a professor of religion and members of the Pushtimarg community. —Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conservatour "legal custodian, protector, guardian," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French conservatour, conservator, borrowed from Latin conservātōr-, conservātor "one who preserves, savior" (Medieval Latin, "official custodian, keeper"), from conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve" + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix — more at conserve entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for conservator

• servitor

Legal Definition

conservator

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tor kən-ˈsər-və-tər, ˈkän-sər-ˌvā- 

1

: a person, official, or institution appointed by a court to take over and manage the estate of an incompetent compare committee, curator, guardian, receiver, tutor

2

: a public official charged with the protection of something affecting public welfare and interests

specifically : an official placed in charge of a bank because its affairs are not in a satisfactory condition

conservatorship noun