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

• gallery
• salon

Examples of museum in a Sentence

a museum of natural history

a trip to the Museum of Natural History

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite the somber subject matter, cruise ship visitors shouldn’t hesitate to make the museum a priority. —David Nikel, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

In August 2024, the museum announced a new project in collaboration with the Arlington Historical Society that would memorialize the enslaved of Arlington (MEA) and celebrate their lives. —Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 3 May 2025

Many of the coins found were dated between 1808 and 1915, while several were minted during the twenties and thirties, which helped the museum to better determine when the coins may have been placed in the wall. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 3 May 2025

The museum is also presenting a free talk with artist Raphael Escobar, whose work is part of the exhibition, on Tuesday night at the Skid Row History Museum & Archive, 250 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. Fowler Museum at UCLA, 308 Charles E. Young Drive N., Westwood. —Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

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

• corneum
• hordeum
• luteum
• lyceum
• athenaeum
• coliseum
• colosseum
• mausoleum
• mycelium
• 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.