museum

noun

mu·​se·​um myu̇-ˈzē-əm 

: 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

Synonyms of museum

• gallery
• exhibition

Examples of museum in a Sentence

a museum of natural history

a trip to the Museum of Natural History

Recent Examples on the Web

Friends who work in the art world here rave about the explosion of commercial galleries and world-class museums in Galatea, Beyoğlu and nearby Tophane (areas that can easily be covered on foot), while Art International Istanbul is becoming as well-known as Frieze, Art Basel or the Armoury. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

And yet art-world institutions—including major museums, schools, commercial galleries, and publishing outlets—have mostly avoided the fawning capitulation of universities and Democrats, simply going quiet in the hope of escaping notice for the next three years. —Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026

On Saturday, French museum Centre Pompidou-Metz sent out a curious media blast headed by two grainy images. —Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 1 June 2026

With a large medieval center and many fine museums, the city is always worth a visit. —Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1660, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing museum

• historical museum
• museum piece
• wax museum

Rhymes for museum

• athenaeum
• coliseum
• colosseum
• mausoleum
• mycelium
• corneum
• hordeum
• luteum
• lyceum
• endothelium
• periosteum
• peritoneum

Kids Definition

museum

noun

mu·​se·​um myu̇-ˈzē-əm 

: a building in which interesting and valuable things (as works of art or historical or scientific objects) are collected and shown to the public

Etymology

from Latin Museum "a place devoted to the Muses, a place for the study of special arts and sciences," from Greek Mouseion (same meaning), from Mouseios "of the Muses," from Mousa "Muse, goddess of an art or science" — related to music

Word Origin

The ancient Greeks worshipped nine sister goddesses, each of whom was called a Mousa. In English we now refer to them as the Muses. The Greeks believed that each Muse was the goddess of a particular art or science. A place that was dedicated to these goddesses—and to the arts and sciences for which they stood—was called a Mouseion. The Greek Mouseion became Museum in Latin, from which it was borrowed into English about 300 years ago.