collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

: one that collects: such as

a

: an official who collects funds or moneys

b

: a person who makes a collection

stamp collector

c

: an object or device that collects

the statuette was a dust collector

d

: solar collector

collectorship

kə-ˈlek-tər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of collector in a Sentence

He is an avid stamp collector.

The painting was purchased by a private collector.

The trash collectors came early today.

Recent Examples on the Web

The exercise also became an investment strategy as collectors saw previously underrecognized work increase exponentially in value. —Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Research on fine art collections in wealthy families — another domain where the older generation controls the asset and the younger one will inherit the complications — found that roughly six in 10 collectors haven’t discussed their collections with their heirs at all. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 June 2026

The other major draw for collectors is a trove of documentation that takes the concept of box and papers to an extreme. —Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 1 June 2026

Talk about a collector’s watch. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English collectour, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin collēctōr-, collēctor, from colleg-, variant stem of colligere "to gather together, assemble, accumulate" + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix — more at collect entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing collector

• collector's item
• solar collector

Rhymes for collector

• bisector
• connector
• corrector
• defector
• deflector
• detector
• director
• dissector
• effector
• ejector
• elector
• erector

Kids Definition

collector

noun

col·​lec·​tor kə-ˈlek-tər 

1

: a person whose job is to collect money due

tax collector

bill collector

2

: one that makes a collection

stamp collector

3

: an object or device that collects

the ornament was just a dust collector