museum

noun mu·se·um \ myu̇-ˈzē-əm \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of museum

: an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value

American Museum of Natural History

; also : a place where objects are exhibited

an art museum

See museum defined for English-language learners

See museum defined for kids

Examples of museum in a Sentence

a museum of natural history
a trip to the Museum of Natural History

Recent Examples of museum from the Web

Performing Arts: offering ongoing live intimate concert series in the museum from symphonies to local and visiting musicians.

— nickole kerner bobley, Houston Chronicle, "ART FEEL: The Woodlands is for art lovers," 30 Mar. 2018
All are cultivated in a greenhouse in Hingham, where more than 10,000 plants and trees await their turn in the museum.

— cindy atoji keene, BostonGlobe.com, "The Gardner museum’s gardener reveals how its courtyard stays in bloom," 29 Mar. 2018
Also in the museum is a wigwam created with help from Native American tribe members.

— sheryl devore, Lake County News-Sun, "Life-sized dinosaur, wigwam and hands-on experiences featured at new Lake County museum," 25 Mar. 2018
There’s also films screenings, a board game night in a museum, dance performances at Playhouse Square and more.

— cleveland.com, "25 things to do in Cleveland this St. Patrick's Day weekend," 15 Mar. 2018
But really, that note should be framed and displayed in an art museum.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "Jake Arrieta's penmanship almost overshadowed his classy Cubs farewell letter," 13 Mar. 2018
That’s the color all U.S. military fire trucks were painted after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, said Tom Czekanski, the museum’s restoration manager.

— Washington Post, "National WW2 Museum renovating 1943 home front fire truck," 11 Mar. 2018
The brand casually staged a spaceship landing in the museum’s historic courtyard, with the runway resembling a futuristic gangplank.

— emilia petrarca, The Cut, "11 Trends That Are Going to Be Huge Next Fall," 8 Mar. 2018
The museum also houses the Irish Family History Centre, which helps visitors research their Irish roots.

— USA TODAY, "Rick Steves: What’s new in Britain and Ireland for 2018," 3 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of museum

Latin Museum place for learned occupation, from Greek Mouseion, from neuter of Mouseios of the Muses, from Mousa

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1660

See Words from the same year

museum Synonyms

Synonyms

gallery, salon;

display, exhibition;

studio;

Other History Terms

agonistic, carpetbagger, enceinte, fief, historiography, paladin

MUSEUM Defined for English Language Learners

museum

noun

Definition of museum for English Language Learners

: a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public