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

He was initially mentored by his godfather, Edward O’Dell, an Asian snuff bottle collector. —Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 3 Jan. 2025

This valuable pottery has seen a resurgence in recent years, and is a favorite of collectors. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2025

The card, a limited-edition autographed rookie featuring Jackson Holliday—one of Major League Baseball's most promising young talents—has already been hailed as a treasure among collectors. —Billie Schwab Dunn, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

So, collectors are not just grabbing inventory or speculatively gobbling up young artists. —The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 2 Jan. 2025

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