museum

noun mu·se·um \ myu̇-ˈzē-əm \

Updated on: 5 Jun 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

After exploring New York's third-largest museum, take a stroll in Brooklyn’s second-largest park.

— michaela bechler, Vogue, "What to Do Before or After Your Visit to the Brooklyn Museum," 1 June 2018
The interior of this decades-old Anchorage favorite is a veritable museum of local history, and the casual outdoor dining area is especially fun when dining with kids.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Out-of-town guests? Here’s where to take them to eat around Anchorage.," 31 May 2018
The announcement was on the day of the memorial and museum’s annual commemoration of the rescue and recovery effort, which officially ended on May 30, 2002.

— Washington Post, "Design to honor Sept. 11 rescue, recovery workers unveiled," 30 May 2018
The monument’s visitor center also remains open, and includes a museum, documentary on the attack and harbor tours.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Exterior Cracks Force Indefinite Closure of the USS Arizona Memorial," 30 May 2018
This free Washington museum, in the heart of the Smithsonian complex, will have your space nerd over the moon.

— chris erskine, latimes.com, "Geek out with your grad at these high-minded museums and events," 30 May 2018
According to Mamava's website, there are hundreds of lactation suites already located inside airports, arenas, universities, museums, and other public buildings across the country.

— andrea park, SELF, "Amtrak Just Announced Plans to Build 'Lactation Suites' in 5 Major Train Stations," 24 May 2018
The Cedar Lake Historical Society operates the museum, which has been around for more than a century.

— philip potempa, Post-Tribune, "Dr. Scholl’s has left a footprint in Northwest Indiana," 23 May 2018
In 2014, an archaeologist with the museum, Lisa Niziolek, began corresponding with ceramic experts in China and Japan and discovered that some of the Java wreck ceramics were more similar to pieces made in the 11th and 12th century.

— ashley strickland, CNN, "Treasure trove reveals origins of 800-year-old shipwreck," 16 May 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

in the meaning defined above

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