curator

noun cu·ra·tor \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər , ˈkyər- ; kyu̇-ˈrā- ; ˈkyu̇r-ə- , ˈkyər- \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

Definition of curator

: one who has the care and superintendence of something; especially : one in charge of a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit

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curatorial

play \ˌkyu̇r-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl, ˌkyər-\ adjective

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curatorship

play \ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər-ˌship, ˈkyər-; kyu̇-ˈrā-; ˈkyu̇r-ə-, ˈkyər-\ noun

See curator defined for English-language learners

See curator defined for kids

Recent Examples of curator from the Web

The show, organized by guest curator Suzanne Ramljak, seeks to highlight a tendency rather than expound a theory.

— thomas hine, Philly.com, "Brandywine River Museum's new exhibit finds scary beauty in the realm of decay," 5 July 2018
The ground-breaking LACMA show, its 107 woodcuts selected and lucidly organized by curator Naoko Takahatake, opens with Ugo’s small, luxurious image of Saint Jerome, generally considered to be Renaissance Italy’s first chiaroscuro woodcut.

— christopher knight, latimes.com, "Out of the shadows and into the light: 'Chiaroscuro Woodcut' is a sleeper hit at LACMA," 5 July 2018
They’ll be accompanied by the 15-piece KSDS Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of trumpeter (and San Diego Symphony jazz curator) Gilbert Castellanos.

— george varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Bayside Summer Nights concert series will feature fireworks galore, plus a few rock and R&B legends," 28 June 2018
Elizabeth Athens, then the Worcester Art Museum’s curator of American Art, came up with the idea while assessing the museum’s early American gallery.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Museum Ties Portraits of the Wealthy to Their Slaveholding Pasts," 21 June 2018
Content curators, creatives—these and other intermediary non-roles crop up in everything from journalism to art.

— katie kosma, Longreads, "TPS Reports All Day Long," 12 June 2018
These online bouquet curators are sustainably sourced, uniquely designed, and can be ordered from the comfort of your own couch within days (even down to the day) of said upcoming celebration.

— refinery29.com, "The Best Online Flower Shops For Last-Minute Mother's Day Redemption," 10 May 2018
Hosted by chef Edouardo Jordan, twice nominated for this year’s James Beard Awards, the four-course event was a celebration of food, culture and color, curated by the founder and curator, Lezli Levene Harvell.

— maiysha kai, The Root, "This Is How We Do It: The 2018 Iconoclast Dinner Experience Kicks Off With an All-Star Bash in Chicago," 7 May 2018
Immerse into the past, learn more about our brave soldiers from the staff and curators, who are more than willing to guide you through the huge amount of memorabilia.

— amy aumick, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Clay County: Military history at Camp Blanding," 7 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

In a good-sized art museum, each curator is generally responsible for a single department or collection: European painting, Asian sculpture, Native American art, and so on. Curatorial duties include acquiring new artworks, caring for and repairing objects already owned, discovering frauds and counterfeits, lending artworks to other museums, and mounting exhibitions of everything from Greek sculpture to 20th-century clothing.

Origin and Etymology of curator

borrowed from Latin cūrātor "one who looks after, superintendent, guardian," from cūrāre "to watch over, attend" + -tor, agent suffix — more at ²cure

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1561

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Job Terms

factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith

CURATOR Defined for English Language Learners

curator

noun

Definition of curator for English Language Learners

: a person who is in charge of the things in a museum, zoo, etc.

CURATOR Defined for Kids

curator

noun cu·ra·tor \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər , kyu̇-ˈrā- , ˈkyu̇r-ə- \

Definition of curator for Students

: a person in charge of a museum or zoo

Word Root of curator

The Latin word cūrāre, meaning “to care,” gives us the root cur. Words from the Latin cūrāre have something to do with giving care. A cure, something that heals sickness, is something that cares for someone's health. Anything accurate has been carefully measured or supplied so that it is free from mistakes. A curator is a person who cares for the things in a museum.

Law Dictionary

curator

noun cu·ra·tor \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər, kyu̇-ˈrā-tər \

legal Definition of curator

in the civil law of Louisiana : a person appointed by a court to care for the property of an absent person or to care for the person or property of someone mentally incapable of doing so — compare committee, conservator, guardian, interdict, tutor

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