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

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo spent three weeks restoring the tondo, working on the project with Italian conservators from the Museo dell’Ara Pacis in Rome. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Austrian authorities have cited the headdress’s fragility as the cause preventing its return, as per a joint study by Austrian and Mexican conservators. — News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026

During the process of repainting, conservators discovered that there were, in fact, eleven layers of paint on the outside. — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026

Specialists from Rome worked alongside conservators from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir — where the collection is usually kept — for three weeks to restore the artwork, officials said at a press conference. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

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