conservator

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tor kən-ˈsər-və-tər 

-və-ˌtȯr;

ˈkän(t)-sər-ˌvā-tər

1

a

: one that preserves from injury or violation : protector

b

: one that is responsible for the care, restoration, and repair of archival or museum articles

2

: a person, official, or institution designated to take over and protect the interests of an incompetent

3

: an official charged with the protection of something affecting public welfare and interests

conservatorial

kən-ˌsər-və-ˈtȯr-ē-əl 

(ˌ)kän-

adjective

conservatorship

kən-ˈsər-və-tər-ˌship 

-və-ˌtȯr-;

ˈkän(t)-sər-ˌvā-tər-

noun

Examples of conservator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

French president Emmanuel Macron in 2018 offered to loan the work to England, but conservators deemed the tapestry too fragile to be moved. —News Desk, Artforum, 10 July 2025

The city of Covington is currently investing around $175,000 into repairs at the home at 1226 Greenup St. That's after years of code violation fines reaching more than $16,000 and a court decision that named the city conservator of the property. —Jolene Almendarez, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

After the shrine emerged in pieces from the lake, it was displayed for six months in a tank of water before conservators began the decades-long preservation process. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025

Longtime Wilson family representatives LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers were appointed as his conservators in May 2024. —Rachel Desantis, People.com, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English conservatour "legal custodian, protector, guardian," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French conservatour, conservator, borrowed from Latin conservātōr-, conservātor "one who preserves, savior" (Medieval Latin, "official custodian, keeper"), from conservāre "to save or keep from danger, preserve" + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix — more at conserve entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for conservator

• servitor

Legal Definition

conservator

noun

con·​ser·​va·​tor kən-ˈsər-və-tər, ˈkän-sər-ˌvā- 

1

: a person, official, or institution appointed by a court to take over and manage the estate of an incompetent compare committee, curator, guardian, receiver, tutor

2

: a public official charged with the protection of something affecting public welfare and interests

specifically : an official placed in charge of a bank because its affairs are not in a satisfactory condition

conservatorship noun