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

Over the past two years, conservators, curators and art historians from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, have reassessed the Philadelphia painting. —Gareth Harris, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025

In some cases of undue influence, the capacity declaration can be done by a social worker instead of a doctor, said Lisa Pate, chief deputy public administrator guardian conservator for Santa Clara County’s Office of the Public Administrator Guardian Conservator. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 1 Sep. 2025

Soon afterward, staff started hearing reports that specialist suppliers to the auction house—such as conservators, who repair damaged paintings—were having to wait longer to get paid. —Sam Knight, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025

If a district sues the state, the TEA could impose a conservator, which directs district action. —Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 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