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

On Christmas morning, Lucy (Sandra Bullock), a lonely token collector, rescues her secret crush Peter (Peter Gallagher) after he’s pushed onto the tracks and knocked out. —Sezín Devi Koehler, EW.com, 6 Dec. 2024

Marino is an eclectic collector, often choosing unfashionable objects like cookie jars, or Renaissance and Baroque bronzes. —Miles Socha, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024

Gusto Gifts Delighting wine aficionados on your gift lists isn’t easy, especially if the recipient is a devoted collector. —Elycia Rubin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024

As Wales makes a move into the art jewelry space, collectors enter a universe of the weird and wonderful. —Kate Matthams, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

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

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing collector

• collector's item
• solar collector

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